It's been a source of some conjecture for several months. An amazing shot, taken at the very latest fraction of a second, of a stricken USAF Thunderbird F-16 in ejection mode, has finally been claimed by its photographer.

Taken at (relatively) close range, the picture shows in extraordinary detail, the last fraction of a second ejection of Capt. Christopher Stricklin at Mountain Home Air Force Base, Idaho. After an error in judging entry altitude, Stricklin was forced to abandon his aircraft less than a second before impact, in the Thunderbirds' number six aircraft.

Stricklin, who was not injured, ejected after both guiding the jet away from the crowd (as illustrated well in the cockpit video that survived the crash) of more than 60,000 people and ensuring he couldn't save the aircraft. This was only the second crash since the Air Force began using F-16 Falcons for its demonstration team in 1982. The ACES II ejection seat performed flawlessly.

The amazing photo is the superb work of Air Force Staff Sgt. Bennie J. Davis III... to whom ANN owes a tall cold frosty one whenever and wherever he chooses... so long as he tells us just how he captured that incredible photo...

FMI: www.af.mil