Do you believe in coincidences?
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/USS_Richard_B.Russell(SSN-687)
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/USS_Richard_B.Russell(SSN-687)
I'm thinking that's a good possibility. According to wikipedia it was stored at the Naval shipyard in Bremerton, Washington which is close to Whidbey.
I think the Rich Russell guy is completely made up. That plane was either remote controlled or a hologram. White hats signalling to black hats that as usual they are 5 steps ahead.
F15s could also have been equipped with hologram projectors.