Sonic Boom Rattles Southern Oregon

A sonic boom that shook homes in southern Oregon Thursday probably was produced by a supersonic spy plane.

People in Grants Pass, Cave Junction and Medford reported hearing the boom about 11:25 a.m.

An SR-71 Blackbird, based at Edwards Air Force Base in California, was flying in the vicinity at that time, said Air Force spokeswoman Airman Catherine Holloman.

Jim Porter, who lives outside Grants Pass, said the boom rattled a bird cage hanging in his house and made him think some contractors installing a steel stairway had dropped it on the house.<