Two US E-4B aircraft, otherwise known as ‘Doomsday Planes’, which are designed to survive an electromagnetic shockwave in the event of war, were damaged and left grounded by a fast-moving tornado at an airbase in Nebraska, local media report. A heavy storm packing driving rain, high winds, and two tornadoes ripped through the US Air Force’s Offutt base in Nebraska last weekend. The extent of the damage to the facility was reported by local media on Saturday.
Ten aircraft, including the two E-4B Nightwatchers, were damaged by the tornado, said Air Force Captain Mark Graff, as cited by Stars and Stripes. NBC reported that the two E-4Bs – half of the fleet of four – were grounded by the tornado. Air Force spokesman Colonel Pat Ryder said the tornado was fast-moving, but the base personnel “attempted to hangar as many [planes] as they could,” adding that “obviously some were damaged.” READ MORE
