The Enterprise goes back, by accident, to the "present time" (late 1960s, when this episode was aired). The starship is damaged and in a very low orbit; in fact, low and slow enough for a fighter jet to possibly intercept it. A fighter jet is sent up to investigate the sighting The F-104 jet is "contemporary" for the late 1960s and, did, in fact, sometimes carry nuclear weapons ( air to air missiles with a "low" yield that were still quite capable of damaging Enterprise; as Mr. Spock correctly surmises). Such is the beginning of this episode and I believe D. C. Fontana, the writer, based the beginning on a an actual incident (the "Mantell case";; where a USAF fighter plane may actually have been shot down by a U. F. O.).
It occurred on January 7, 1948 and involved three F-51 aircraft (P-51 Mustangs as they were known in WWII). The commander of Godman Air Force Base (now closed) in Kentucky was notified of a U. F. O. Near his base. Three F-51s were on a routine ferry flight that happened to be in the air were requested to investigate this. Two of them went to the highest level they were able to (no oxygen equipment in them due to it being a routine ferry mission) and turned around. One F-51, piloted by Captain Thomas Mantell, continued to climb and chase the U. F. O. ; much like the pilot of the F-104 in this episode does. And, as the F-104 in this episode does, the F-51 disintegrated in flight.
Captain Thomas Mantell was found, dead, in the wreckage of his P-51 the next day. This DID happen; a military fighter plane chased a UFO and disintegrated. What happens in the Star Trek episode based on this? Watch it and find out.
It occurred on January 7, 1948 and involved three F-51 aircraft (P-51 Mustangs as they were known in WWII). The commander of Godman Air Force Base (now closed) in Kentucky was notified of a U. F. O. Near his base. Three F-51s were on a routine ferry flight that happened to be in the air were requested to investigate this. Two of them went to the highest level they were able to (no oxygen equipment in them due to it being a routine ferry mission) and turned around. One F-51, piloted by Captain Thomas Mantell, continued to climb and chase the U. F. O. ; much like the pilot of the F-104 in this episode does. And, as the F-104 in this episode does, the F-51 disintegrated in flight.
Captain Thomas Mantell was found, dead, in the wreckage of his P-51 the next day. This DID happen; a military fighter plane chased a UFO and disintegrated. What happens in the Star Trek episode based on this? Watch it and find out.