I had read a copy of the NOTAM the area was cordoned due to military exercise. They picked the area to simulate interfences, radar returns, etc., from different airports in the surrounding area.
That doesn't change the fact that they wouldn't have shot a missile with commercial airliners around. Radar tests are one thing, firing a missile in an area thick with civilian traffic is totally different. That's the kind of negligence that doesn't just get you cashiered; it gets you cashiered, beaten with broomhandles, and mauled by dogs before they even drag your sorry carcass before the courts martial.
There is no way that the USN would have shot down TWA 800 and then tried to cover it up. No way. The world and the Navy just don't work that way.
Yes and no. The NOTAM was active but it wasn't because of that. There is a sub base in New London. It wasn't uncommon for the Navy to take advantage of subs transiting to and from the base to do a little hands-on ASW training for the VP squadrons in Maine. The area was cordoned because there was a P-3 out of Brunswick doing low level maneuvers in the area.