It wasn't actually that rare an occurrence; I've heard at least a dozen Cold War stories, all verified, of self-landers. Danish Hunter serial 415 was probably

It wasn't actually that rare an occurrence; I've heard at least a dozen Cold War stories, all verified, of self-landers. Danish Hunter serial 415 was probably the most famous, it flew itself pilotless down the approach at Skrydstrup and landed beside the runway. http://aviadejavu.ru/Site/Arts/Art9093.htm http://aviadejavu.ru/Site/Arts/Art9093.htm More morbid was the WW2 92 Sqn Spitfire that nearly made it back to its home airfield with a dead pilot at the controls. It landed in treetops near Biggin Hill after flying all the way back from France where he had been killed.