I have seen aircraft that had encountered hail from thunderstorms while they were nealy 50 miles down wind from the cells.
It can happen. You cannot paint hail on the vast majority of aircraft radar, unless it is really large sized hail and you know what to look for. As for visually seeing hail, yes you can, just after you hit it.
So assuming that this AF crew blindly or willingly flew into a thunderstorm, maybe completely wrong and probably is.
But, assuming is what this forum is famous for and I don't think I'll live long enough to see that change.
