"sometimes a cigar is just a cigar". Monica would not agree with that statement
but it is unfortunate that conspiracists would likely also say the moon shots were fake so reject these superb examples as well. Could the damage also be from water entering the tail during "touchdown" when the tail fin mounts/support ribs were deformed and the plane was still 'moving forward dragging the tail'. ie the tail ribs were bent backwards from memory indicating possibly a large 'wave' of water entering the tail from the front. FF