A-12, YF-12A, & SR-71 Timeline of Events
1 May 1956
Pratt & Whitney contract to develop engine(JT9) for CL-400;
J-58 (JT 11D-20) is 80% size of JT9 (SME)1 May 1956 Pratt &
Whitney contract to develop engine(JT9) for CL-400; J-58 (JT 11D-20)
is 80% size of JT9 (SME)
24 Dec 1957
First J-58 engine run (BB)
21 Apr 1958
First mention of Archangel (became A-12) in Kelly Johnson's dairy
(LSW)
29 Aug 1959
CIA accepts A-12 design (LSW; BB)
3 Sep 1959
CIA ok's project "Oxcart" studies (LSW)
Nov 1959
A-12 mock-up undergoes RCS testing at Groom Lake, NV (SME; LSW)
30 Jan 1960
CIA approves funding for 12 A-12s (SME; LSW; BB)
Feb 1960
CIA proposes to Lockheed to begin search for 24 pilots for A-12
Sep 1960
Work begins to enlarge and lengthen runway at Groom Lake, NV
Jan 1961
Kelly Johnson sends proposal to Dr. Joseph Charyk(SAF), Col. Leo
Geary (YF-12 Project Officer), Lew Meyer(Finance Officer) for
RS-12 Strategic Recon Bomber (LSB; SME)
26 Feb 1962
First A-12 leaves Burbank, Ca for Groom Lake, NV by truck (SME;
LSW)
28 Feb 1962
A-12 arrives by truck at Groom Lake, NV (SME)
24 Apr 1962
A-12 high speed taxi tests; Lockheed Test Pilot: Lou Schalk (AM1;
LSB)
26 Apr 1962
First flight of A-12 article #121/ #6924; Lockheed Test Pilot:
Lou Schalk (BIA; AM1; LSB; BB)
30 Apr 1962
A-12 art.#121/#6924, first official flight; Lockheed Test Pilot:
Lou Schalk
May 1962
Bill Park joins Lou Schalk as 2nd pilot for A-12 program
4 May 1962
A-12 goes supersonic(Mach 1.1) for first time (LSW)
4 Jun 1962
SR-71 mock-up reveiwed by USAF (BB; LSW-14 May)
26 Jun 1962
Second A-12 art. #122/#6925 arrives at Groom Lake;(now on display
at USS Intrepid Museum, NYC) (SME)
30 Jul 1962
J-58 completes pre-flight testing (BB)
Aug 1962
Third A-12 art#123/#6926 arrives at Groom Lake, NV (SME; LSW)
Aug 1962
Jim Eastham becomes third pilot for Blackbird Program (LSW)
Oct 1962
Second A-12 flies at Groom Lake, NV (SME)
Oct 1962
Letter of Intent for $1 million for AF-12(YF-12) delivered to
Lockheed (LSW)
5 Oct 1962
A-12 flies with J-75(Left nacelle) and J-58(Right nacelle) engines
(LSW)
10 Oct 1962
Skunk Works receives authorization for Drone(Q-12) study from
CIA
Nov 1962
Fourth A-12 (2 seat trainer) art.#124/6027 arrives at Groom Lake,
NV (SME)
17 Dec 1962
Fifth A-12 art.#125/#6928 arrives at Groom Lake (LSW)
28 Dec 1962
Lockheed signs contract to build 6 SR-71 aircraft (AM1; LSB; BB)
7 Jan 1963
A-12 Trainer flies for first time (TL; SME; LSW)
5 Jan 1963
Bob Gilliland hired as fourth pilot for "Program" (LSW)
15 Jan 1963
First fully J-58 engined A-12 flies (SME; LSW)
15 Jan 1963
Bob Gilliland arrives at Groom Lake, NV (LSW)
Feb 1963
William Skliar joins "Oxcart" program (LSB)
Mar 1963
Jim Eastham begins writing Flight Handbook for YF-12 (LSB)
24 May 1963
First loss A-12 art.#123/#6926 crashed near Wendover, UT; Ken
Collins ok, pitched up and became inverted during subsonic flight
(AM1; LSB; SME; BB)
31 May 1963
Mock-up review of AF-12 (LSW)
Jun 1963
Q-12 drone fit check to A-12 (RK)
20 Jul 1963
First Mach 3 A-12 flight (LSW)
7 Aug 1963
First YF-12 flight; Lockheed Test Pilot: James Eastham (AM1; LSB;
LSW; BB)
1 Oct 1963
Q-12 design finalized, and renamed D-21 (RK)
Nov 1963
A-12 design speed (3.2 mach) and altitude(78,000ft)
3 Feb 1964
A-12 cruises at Mach 3.2 and 83,000ft for 10 minutes (LSW)
29 Feb 1964
President Johnson announces existence of A-11 (actually A-12,
and showed pics of YF-12) (LSW; BB)
13 Mar 1964
First Flight of YF-12 #6936, Lockheed Test Pilot: James Eastham
(RK)
Apr 1964
M-21 #6940 First Flight
16 Apr 1964
First AIM-47 ejected in flight from YF-12; Lockheed Test Pilot/FCO:
Jim Eastham/? (RON)
May 1964
Secretary of Defense Robert McNamara cancels RS-70 program (Recon/Strike)
in favor of SR-71 program(Recon) (SME)
Jun 1964
Final A-12 #6939 delivered to Groom Lake (RK)
19 Jun 1964
Fit check of mating of M-21 #134 and D-21 #504 is successful (LSW)
9 Jul 1964
Bill Park forced to eject from A-12 art.#133/#6939 on final at
Groom Lake; stuck outboard aileron servo valve (LSW)
24 Jul 1964
President Johnson makes public announcement of RS-71 and reverses
name to SR-71 (LSW)
5 Aug 1964
Cuban overflights "Skylark" planning starts (Emergency
operational status by 5 Nov) (SME)
29 Oct 1964
SR-71 #950 prototype delivered to Palmdale, Site 2, Air Force
Plant 42 in 2 large trailers (BB)
10 Nov 1964
First operational A-12 mission and penetration of denied airspace
over Cuba (CIA denies this) (LSW)
7 Dec 1964
Beale AFB, CA announced as base for SR-71 (BB)(LSB says Oct 64)
18 Dec 1964
First engine run of SR-71 prototype (BB)
21 Dec 1964
SR-71 taxi tests (BB)
22 Dec 1964
First flight of SR-71 #950; Lockheed Test Pilot Bob Gilliland
at Palmdale; flew for 1 hour and over 1000mph (AM1; BB)
22 Dec 1964
First flight M-21/D-21 at Groom Lake; Lockheed Test Pilot Bill
Park (piloted all M-21/D-21 flights) (BIA; SME; BB)
1 Jan 1965
4200 SRW Activated at Beale AFB, CA, along with 4200 HQS, AEMS,
FMS, OMS, Medical Group (BIA; LSB; SME)
9 Jan 1965
Jim Eastham flies YF-12A at Mach 3.2 for 5 minutes
27 Jan 1965
A-12 flown for 1hr 40 min at Mach 3.1 or higher for a distance
of 3000 miles (SME)
5 Mar 1965
First flightof SR-71A #951, Lockheed Test Pilot/RSO: Bob Gilliland/
Jim Zwayer (now on display at Pima Air Museum, AZ) (LSW; BB)
18 Mar 1965
First firing of GAR-9 from YF-12A; Lockheed Test Pilot/FCO: Jim
Eastham/? (LSW; RON)
22 Mar 1965
Deputy Sec. of Defense Cyrus Vance briefed on Project "Black
Shield", plan to base A-12s at Kadena AB, Okinawa (SME)
Apr 1965
Acton delivers the first 3 Type H(60" focal length) cameras
for A-12 (SME)
1 May 1965
Two YF-12A(#6934 & #6936) sets Speed and Altitude Records:
Class C,
Group III Sustained Altitude(absolute):80,258ft USAF Pilots/FCO:
Col Robt. Stevens/ Lt Col Daniel Andre
15/25 KM Closed Circuit: 2,070.102mph, USAF Pilot/FCO: Col. Robert
Stephens/ Lt Col Daniel Andre
500 KM Closed Circuit: 1,643.042mph, USAF Pilot/FCO: Maj Walter
Daniel/ Maj. Noel Warner
1000KM Closed Circuit: 1,688.891mph, USAF Pilot/FCO: Maj Walter
Daniel/ Capt James Cooney
(BIA; LSW)
1 Jun 1965
SR-71/YF-12 Test force formed at Edwards AFB, CA
3 Jun 1965
Secretary of Defense Robert McNamara inquires of Under Secretary
of USAF practicality of substituting A-12 for U-2 over Vietnam
(LSW)
4 Jun 1965
First flight of SR-71A #953; Lockheed Test Pilots: Bill Weaver/
George Andre (LSW; BB)
1 Jul 1965
Col J. A. Des Portes becomes 4200 SRW Commander thru 17 Jul 1965
(9RW)
7 Jul 1965
First T-38 companion trainers arrive at Beale AFB, CA (LSB; SME;
BB)
20 Jul 1965
First flight of SR-71A #954; Lockheed Test Pilot/RSO: Bill Weaver/
George Andre (LSW; BB)
17 Aug 1965
First flight of SR-71A #955; Lockheed Test Pilot/RSO: Bill Weaver/
George Andre (Now on display at USAF Flight Test Museum, Edward
AFB, CA) (LSW; BB)
18 Sep 1965
Col D. T. Nelson becomes(again) 4200 SRW Commander thru 24 Jun
1966 (9RW; BB)
28 Sep 1965
GAR-9 fired from YF-12A at Mach 3.2 at 75,000 ft, with target
at a range of 36 miles, missed target by 6 feet
5 Nov 1965
Project "Skylark" (Cuban overflights) on emergency operational
status (SME)
18 Nov 1965
First flight SR-71B #956; Lockheed Test Pilot/RSO: Bob Gilliland
/ Steven Belgau (now operational with NASA) (BB; JS)
20 Nov 1965
A-12 flies for 6hrs, 20 minutes(longest flight to date) (LSW;
SME;)
2 Dec 1965
"303 Committee" asked to deploy Oxcart to Far East(Black
Shield); They reject proposal , but want quick-reaction capability
in 21 days (SME)
14 Dec 1965
Col W.R. Hayes becomes 9 SRW Commander through 26 Jun 1969 (9RW;
BB)
15 Dec 1965
First flight of SR-71A #958; Lockheed Test Pilot/RSO: Bill Weaver/
George Andre (LSW; BB)
18 Dec 1965
First flight of SR-71B #957; Lockheed Test Pilot/RSO: Bill Weaver/
Jim Eastham (LSW; BB)
7 Jan 1966
First SR-71B #956 delivered to USAF flown to Beale AFB by Ray
Haupt/ Doug Nelson (AM!; SME; LSW; LSB)
9 Jan 1966
First flight SR-71A #960; Lockheed Test Pilot/RSO: Bill Weaver/
George Andre (LSW; BB)
19 Jan 1966
First flight SR-71A #959; Lockheed Test Pilot/RSO: Bill Weaver/
George Andre (now on display Eglin AFB, FL) (BB)
25 Jan 1966
First SR-71A crash, #952 crashed near Tucumcary, NM; Lockheed
Test Pilot/ RSO: Bill Weaver ejected at over 3 Mach Jim Zwayer
was killed (LTR)
11 Feb 1966
Staff Crew #1 completes initial qualification in SR-71, USAF Crew:
Doug Nelson/ Russell Lewis (RLL)
5 Mar 1966
First D-21 #503 launched from M-21 #6941, and flew 150 nmi; Lockheed
Test Pilot/FCO: Bill Park/ Keith Beswick (LSW)
13 Apr 1966
First flight SR-71A #961; Lockheed Test Pilot/RSO: Bill Weaver/
George Andre (LSW; BB)
27 Apr 1966
Second D-21 #506 launched from M-21 #6941 and flew 1120 nmi; Lockheed
Test Pilot/LCO: Bill Park/ Ray Torrick (LSW)
29 Apr 1966
First flight SR-71A #962; Lockheed Test Pilot/RSO: Bill Weaver/
Steven Belgau; (In flyable storage at Palmdale, CA) (LSW; BB)
29 Apr 1966
Second batch of 15 D-21s ordered
10 May 1966
First SR-71A #958 delivered to Beale AFB, CA USAF Pilots: Doug
Nelson/ Pennington (LSB)(LSW says 4 Apr 1966)
11 May 1966
First flight SR-71A #964, Lockheed Test Pilot/RSO: Bill Weaver/
Steven Belgau (LSW; BB)
24 May 1966
SR-71A #962 Delivered to Beale AFB, CA, by USAF Crew: Douglas
Nelson/ Russell Lewis, from Palmdale, CA
16 Jun 1966
Third D-21 #505 launch from M-21 #6941, it flew1600 nmi; Lockheed
Test Pilot/ LCO: Bill Park/ Keith Beswick (LSW)
9 Jun 1966
First flight SR-71A #963, Lockheed Test Pilot/RSO: Bill Weaver/
Steven Belgau (LSW; BB)
10 Jun 1966
First flight SR-71A #965, Lockheed Test Pilot/RSO: Bill Weaver/
Kenneth Moeller (LSW; BB)
25 Jun 1966
4200 SRW inactivated, 9 SRW formed (9RW; BIA; LSB; SME)
1 Jul 1966
First flight SR-71A #966, Lockheed Test Pilot/RSO: Bob Gilliland/
Steven Belgau (LSW; BB)
30 Jul 1966
Fourth D-21 #504 launch from a M-21 #6941, results in the D-21
colliding with the M-21, both crew eject Pilot Bill Park survives,
but LCO Ray Torrick drowns, ending M-21/D-21 program (AM1; SME)
3 Aug 1966
First flight of SR-71A #967, Lockheed Test Pilot/RSO: Bill Weaver/
George Andre (LSW; BB)
14 Aug 1966
YF-12A #6934 crashed, (rear half mated to front half of SR-71
static model to make SR-71C #64-17981)
10 Oct 1966
First flight of SR-71A #968, Lockheed Test Pilot/RSO: Bill Weaver/
George Andre (LSW; BB)
18 Oct 1966
First flight of SR-71A #969, Lockheed Test Pilot/RSO: Bill Weaver/
Steven Belgau (LSW; BB)
21 Oct 1966
First flight of SR-71A #970, Lockheed Test Pilot/RSO: Bill Weaver/
Steven Belgau (LSW; BB)
17 Nov 1966
First flight of SR-71A #971, Lockheed Test Pilot/RSO: Bill Weaver/
Kenneth Moeller; (now being flown by NASA as #832) (LSW; BB)
12 Dec 1966
First flight of SR-71A #972, Lockheed Test Pilot/RSO: Bill Weaver/
Steven Belgau (LSW; BB)
21 Dec 1966
Bill Park flies A-12 10,200 mi (statute) in 6 hrs (LSW; SME; ADR)
23 Dec 1966
Decision is made to terminate A-12 Operation by 1 Jun 1968 (LSW)
5 Jan 1967
A-12 #6928 lost on training mission from Groom Lake, NV, the a/c
ran out of fuel due to a faulty fuel gauge, CIA Pilot: Walt Ray
killed when he failed to separate from ejection seat after ejecting
from A-12 (AM1; SME)
10 Jan 1967
SR-71A #950 crashes at Edwards AFB, CA during max gross weight
anti-skid brake test; Lockheed Test Pilot: Art Peterson OK, no
RSO on flight (LSW; PH)
10 Jan 1967
Secretary of Defense Cyrus Vance advised that 4 A-12s will be
placed in storage by July, and 2 more in Dec, and 4 more in Jan
1968 (SME)
18 Jan 1967
First flight of SR-71A #973, Lockheed Test Pilot/RSO: Bill Weaver/
Darrell Greenamyer (LSW)
16 Feb 1967
First flight of SR-71A #974, Lockheed Test Pilot/RSO: Bill Weaver/
Steven Belgau (LSW; BB)
13 Apr 1967
First flight of SR-71A #975, Lockheed Test Pilot/RSO: Bill Weaver/
Steven Belgau (LSW; BB)
13 Apr 1967
First SR-71 #966 lost by 9 SRW crew, crashes near Las Vegas, NM,
as a result of over extended angle of attack and stalled aircraft;
USAF Pilot/RSO: Earle Boone/ Richard Sheffield (crew E-12) (LSW;
PH)
17 Apr 1967
R.L. "Silverfox" Stevens flies SR-71 14,000 miles and
is awarded FAI Gold Medal (BIA; BB)
May 1967
Deputy Secretary of Defense Cyrus Vance directs that SR-71 assume
Cuban overflights in July 1967 and in Vietnam by Dec 1967 from
CIA's A-12s (SME)
May 1967
First flight of SR-71A #976, Lockheed Test Pilot/RSO: Bob Gilliland/
Steven Belgau (LSW; BB)
17 May 1967
First support components for operation "Black Shield"
airlifted to Kadena AB, Okinawa (OL-8) (LSW)
22 May 1967
First A-12 art#131/#937, flown to Kadena AB, Civilian Pilot: Mel
Vojovodich (LSW)
24 May 1967
Second A-12 art #127/#933, flown to Kadena AB, Civilian Pilot:
Jack Layton, A-12 lost TDI after take-off but he proceeded anyway
to Kadena (SME)
26 May 1967
A-12 art#129/#932, lands at Midway Island with INS problems on
way to Kadena AB, Okinawa deployment, Civilian Pilot: Jack Weeks
(SME)
27 May 1967
Photo of initial SR crews taken at Beale AFB, CA (LSB)
27 May 1967
Third A-12 art#129/#932 arrives at Kadena AB after stop-over at
Midway Island (SME)
29 May 1967
"Black Shield" unit declared operational (SME; LSW)
31 May 1967
First A-12(art#131/#937) mission, It was over North Vietnam and
lasted 3 hrs 39 minutes; CIA Pilot: Mel Vojvodich (SME; LSW; RON)
15 Aug 1967
Since 31 May 1967, 15 A-12 missions alerted, but only 7 flown
(SME)
6 Jun 1967
First flight SR-71A #977, Lockheed Test Pilot/RSO: Bob Gilliland/
Darrell Greenamyer (LSW; BB)
2 Jul 1967
Jim Watkins and Dave Dempster flew first international sortie
in SR-71A #972 when on a training mission the INS failed and they
flew into Mexican airspace (SME)
5 Jul 1967
First flight SR-71A #978, Lockheed Test Pilot/RSO: Bill Weaver/
Steven Belgau; Aircraft became known as "Rapid Rabbit"
(LSW; BB)
10 Aug 1967
First flight SR-71A #979, Lockheed Test Pilot/RSO: Darrel Greenamyer/
Steven Belgau, ( now on display at Lackland AFB, TX) (LSW; BB)
25 Sep 1967
First flight SR-71A #980, Lockheed Test Pilot/RSO: Bob Gilliland/
Steven Belgau; (Now flying as NASA #844) (LSW; BB)
28 Sep 1967
D-21 #501 accidently dropped from B-52H, while on the ground (LSW)
25 Oct 1967
SR-71A #965 crashed near Lovelock, NV after ANS failure, 2nd SR
lost by 9 SRW, USAF Pilot/RSO: Roy St.Martin/ John Carnochan (crew
E-18) ok (LSB; SME; LSW)
30 Oct 1967
Dennis Sullivan flying an A-12 mission over North Vietnam had
6 missiles launched against him, 3 detonated, on post flight inspection,
they found a small piece of metal from missile imbeded in lower
wing fillet area (LSW)
3 Nov 1967
A-12 and SR-71 pitted against each other in a recon fly-off, code
named "Nice Girl" over the Mississippi Valley, 1 hour
apart. Results were inconclusive (RK)
6 Nov 1967
D-21 #507 launched from B-52H and flew 134 nmi (LSW)
2 Dec 1967
D-21 #509 launched from B-52H and flew 1430 nmi (LSW)
28 Dec 1967
A-12 art#126/#929 crashed at Groom Lake, NV due to crosswired
SAS, CIA Pilot: Mel Vojvodich ok (LSB; SME; PH)
31 Dec 1967
Since 16 Aug 1967, 26 A-12 missions alerted, only15 flown (LSW)
5 Jan 1968
Skunk Works receives official USAF notice closing down YF-12 ops
(LSW)
11 Jan 1968
SR-71B #957 crashes near Beale AFB, CA due to double generator
failure; USAF Pilots: Robert Sowers/ David Fruehauf ok (LSB; LSW;
BB)
19 Jan 1968
D-21 #508 launched from B-52H and flew 280 nmi (LSW)
26 Jan 1968
First A-12 overflight of North Korea, this was during Pueblo incident,
CIA Pilot: Frank Murray (SME; LSW)
5 Feb 1968
Lockheed receives letter from USAF, instructing them to destroy
A-12, YF-12 and SR-71 tooling (LSW)
8 Mar 1968
First SR-71A #978 arrives at Kadena AB, Okinawa(OL-8), USAF Pilot/
RSO: Buddy Brown/ David Jensen (LSB, SME, BB)
10 Mar 1968
2nd SR-71A #976 deployed to Kadena AB, Okinawa(OL-8), USAF Pilot/RSO:
Jerry O'Malley/ Edward Payne (SME)
13 Mar 1968
3rd SR-71A #974 arrives at Kadena AB, Okinawa, USAF Pilot/RSO:
Robert Spencer/ Ruel Branham (SME)
15 Mar 1968
All 3 SR-71s operational at Kadena AB (SME)
16 Mar 1968
Fourth Aircrew arrives at Kadena AB, Okinawa the "hard way"
by KC-135Q (SME)
21 Mar 1968
First SAC/9 SRW SR-71(SR-71A #976) operational mission flown from
Kadena AB over Vietnam, USAF Pilot/RSO: Jerry O'Malley/ Edward
Payne (Crew E-10) (LSB; SME) (BB says 30th)
30 Mar 1968
D-21 #511 launched from B-52H and flew 150 nmi (LSW)
31 Mar 1968
Since 1 Jan 1968, 15 A-12 missions alerted, only 6 flown (LSW)
8 May 1968
Last A-12 mission flown over North Korea, CIA Pilot: Jack Layton
(SME; LSW)
29 May 1968
CMSGT Bill Gormick starts tie-cutting tradition of HABU crews
neck-ties (SME)
4 Jun 1968
First overseas loss of A-12 art.#129/#932, crashed for unknown
reason (neither A-12 or pilot ever found) on post maintenance
test hop (FCF), CIA Pilot: Jack Weeks was killed (LSW)(AM1; BB;
SMEsays 5 June)
7 Jun 1968
A-12 art. #131/#6937, had to divert to Wake Island on way from
Kadena AB to Groom Lake, NV, due to fuel leak; CIA Pilot: Ken
Collins (SME)
9 Jun 1968
A-12 art.#127/#930 deployed back to Groom Lake, NV from Kadena
AB in 5 hrs, 29mins, CIA Pilot: Denny Sullivan (SME)
16 Jun 1968
D-21 #512 launched from B-52H and flew 2850 nmi, camera hatch
recovered, but no camera was carried (LSW)
19 Jun 1968
Maj. Bill West writes poem for the 2 "slow" A-12 flights
from Kadena AB to Groom Lake (SME)
21 Jun 1968
Last A-12 art. #131/#6937 flight, it was ferried from Groom Lake,
NV to Palmdale, Ca; CIA Pilot: Frank Murray (SME; LSW; BB)
26 Jun 1968
"Black Shield" pilots: Jack Layton, Frank Murray, Ken
Collins, Denny Sullivan, Mel Vojvodich, and the Widow of Jack
Weeks receive CIA "Intelligence Star for Valor" medal
at Groom Lake from the Director of the CIA VAdm Rufus Taylor (SME)
1 Jul 1968
D-21 #514 launched from B-52H and flew 80 nmi (LSW)
5 Jul 1968
High Time USAF SR-71 Pilot Robert Powell with 1,020.3 hrs; first
flys an SR-71
26 Jul 1968
SR-71A #974 with USAF Pilot/RSO: Tony Bevacqua/ crew, positively
fired on by SA-2 missile, it was photographed by the SRs cameras
(SME)
28 Aug 1968
D-21 #516 launched from B-52H and flew 78 nmi (LSW)
Sep 1968
First in-air recall of SR-71 mission, USAF Pilot/RSO: James Shelton/
Lawrence Boggess (SME)
Sep 1968
Switched OL-8s SR-71s #974,#976,#978 with #962, #970, #980 (SME)
10 Oct 1968
SR-71A #977 crashes at Beale AFB, CA,(wheel hub fractured sending
scrapnel into fuel tanks starting fire on take-off); USAF Pilot/RSO:
Gabriel Kardong/ Jim Kogler ok (LSB)
2 Nov 1968
9th SRW receives Air Force Outstanding Unit Award for 1 Jul 1967-30
Jun1968 (LSB; BB)
Dec 1968
SR-71 Cat III Operational testing ends
15 Dec 1968
D-21 #515 launched from B-52H and flew 2953 nmi, camera hatch
recovered, photos are "fair" (LSW)
11 Feb 1969
D-21 #518 launched from B-52H and flew 161 nmi (LSW)
5 Mar 1969
9th SRW receives 15th Air Force Outstanding Recon Crew (Pat Halloran/
Mort Jarvis) & Maintenance activity and Strategic Recon Wing
Award for 1968 (9RW; PH)
14 Mar 1969
First flight of SR-71C #981, Lockheed Test Pilot/RSO: Bob Gilliland/
Steven Belgau; (Now on display on at Hill AFB, UT); (SR-71C was
built from half of static SR test model and rear half of crashed
YF-12A #6934) (LSB; LSW; BB)
11 Apr 1969
SR-71A #954 crashes at Edwards AFB, CA, (during Max weight take-off
test, left tire blew and caught the aircraft on fire), Lockheed
Test Pilot/RSO: William Skliar/ Noel Warner were ok (LSB; SME;
LSW; PH)
27 Jun 1969
Col C. F. Minter 9th SRW Commander thru 30 Jun1970 (BB; 9RW)
10 Jul 1969
D-21 #520 launched from B-52H and flew 2937 nmi, camera pallet
recovered, photos good (LSW)
Sep 1969
SAC SR-71s had flown over 100 "Hot missions" out of
Kadena AB, Okinawa (LSW)
9 Nov 1969
First operational D-21 mission. D-21 #517 launched from B-52H,
no camera pallet recovered (LSW)
11 Dec 1969
NASAs first YF-12 flight. YF-12A #6935, USAF Pilot/FCO: Col. Joseph
Rogers/ Maj. Garry Heilbaugh (BIA; LSB; LSW)
18 Dec 1969
SR-71A #953 crashes near Shosone, CA; USAF Pilot/RSO: Lt. Col.
Joe Ryan/ Lt. Col. Garry Heidelbaugh ejected (after loud explosion
and loss of power and control difficulties) (LSW; SME; LSW; PH)
16 Jan 1970
YF-12/SR-71 Test Force redesignated 4786 Test Squadron (LSB; BB)
13 Feb 1970
9th SRW, SR-71 crew receives 15th Air Force Aircrew of Year Award
for 1969 (9RW)
20 Feb 1970
D-21 #521 launched from B-52H and flew 2969 nmi, camera pallet
recovered, photos good (LSW)
1 Apr 1970
First NASA piloted YF-12 flight, NASA Pilot: Donald Mallick (LSW)
10 May 1970
SR-71A #969 crashes near Korat RTAFB, Thailand, USAF Pilot/RSO:
William Lawson/ Gil Martinez (LSW; PH)
1 Jun 1970
Col. H. F. Confer, 9 SRW Commander thru 30 May1972 (9RW)
17 Jun 1970
SR-71A #970 crashes near El Paso, TX, (after striking KC-135Q
during refueling); USAF Pilot/RSO: Buddy Brown/ Mort Jarvis (crew
E-08) ejected and ok, along with the tanker and it's crew (LSB;
LSW; PH)
30 Oct 1970
OL-8(Kadena AB, Okinawa) redesignated OL-RK (Ryukyus, chain of
islands Okinawa and Japan are in) (SME)
16 Dec 1970
Second operational D-21 mission. D-21 #523 launched from B-52H
and flew 2448 nmi, no camera pallet recovered (LSW)
31 Dec 1970
Air Force Logistics Command took over Functional Flight Check
for SR-71 and Det 51(Norton AFB) created; also Sacramento Air
Logistics Center provides maintenance support for SR-71 (LSB;
SME)
4 Mar 1971
Third operational D-21 mission. D-21 #526 launched from B-52H
and flew 2935 nmi; camera pallet jettisoned, but not recovered
(LSW)
20 Mar 1971
Fourth and last operational D-21 mission. D-21 #527 launched from
B-52H and flew 2935 nmi; no camera pallet recovered (LSW)
23 Mar 1971
T-38 #91606 crashes on take-off; USAF Pilots: Jack Thornton survived,
Jim Hudson killed (LSB)
1 Apr 1971
99 SRS inactivated as an SR-71 unit (LSB; BB)
26 Apr 1971
USAF Pilot/RSO: Thomas Estes/ Dewain Vick fly a SR-71 #968 15,000
miles in 10 hours 30 minutes non-stop (BB; RK)
24 Jun 1971
NASA YF-12A #6936 crashed at Edwards AFB, CA due to a fire in
the right engine due to fatigued fuel line. NASA Pilot/RSO: Ronald
Layton/ Bill Curtis (AM1; LSW)
30 Jun 1971
14 Strategic Aerospace Division takes command of 9 SRW
15 Jul 1971
Lockheed receives word of D-21 program cancellation (LSW)
16 Jul 1971
NASA receives YF-12C #937 (actually SR-71A #951)
26 Oct 1971
OL-RK redesignated OL-KA(Kadena AB, Okinanwa) (SME)
6 Jan 1972
9 SRW receives USAF Outstanding Unit Award for 1 Jul 1970- 30
Jun 1971 (9RW)
12 Jan 1972
4786 Test Sq inactivated (LSB)
15 May 1972
SR-71A #978 loses both AC generators while over Hanoi and by the
time Pilot Tom Pugh got aux power on the SR had dropped to 41,000
ft and 1.1 mach; Tom Pugh/ Ron Rice landed safely at Udorn RTAFB,
Thailand
31 May 1972
Col. J. F. O'Malley becomes 9 SRW Commander thru 9 May 1973 (9RW)
6 Jul 1972
SR-71A #955 flew a refueling flight envelope and "dry boom"
contact checks on a boom equipped 747, USAF Pilot/RSO: Merv Evanson
/ Cos Mallozzi (SME)
18 Jul 1972
Thomas Estes/ Dewain Vick receive McKay Trophy for 15 hour record
SR-71 flight on 26 April 1971
20 Jul 1972
SR-71A #978 "Rapid Rabbit" crashes at Kadena AB, (due
to strong crosswinds), USAF Pilot/RSO: Denny Bush/ Jimmy Fagg
ok (LSW; BB)
28 Jul 1972
SR-71A #975 flown for ECM cover for B-52 bombing missions (Linebacker)
over Haipong & Hanoi; USAF Pilot: Dave Cobb/ Reg Blackwell
(SME)
23 Jan 1973
9 SRW receives USAF Outstanding Unit Award for 1 Jul 1971-30 Jun
1972 (9RW)
10 May 1973
Col. P. J. Halloran 9 SRW Commander thru 29 Jan 1975 (9RW)
20 Sep 1973
President Nixon awards Thomas Estes/ Dewain Vick the Harmon International
Aviator Award for their record flight on 26 April 1971
11 Oct 1973
SR-71A #979 Flown to Griffis AFB, NY for "Giant Reach"
ops,USAF Pilot/ RSO: James Shelton/ Gary Coleman (BB)
12 Oct 1973
Middle east overflights from CONUS during Arab-Israeli Yom Kippur
War from Griffis AFB, NY and Seymour-Johnson AFB, NC; 9 sorties
were flown: Operation Giant Reach (BB)
13 Oct 1973
SR-71A #979, Flown in "Giant Reach" ops; USAF Pilot/RSO:
James Shelton/ Gary Coleman (BB)
25 Oct 1973
SR-71A #979, Flown in "Giant Reach" ops; USAF Pilot/RSO:
Al Joersz/ John Fuller (BB)
2 Nov 1973
SR-71A #979, Flown in "Giant Reach" ops; USAF Pilot/RSO:
Bob Helt/ Larry Elliott; (left Griffis AFB, and returned to Seymour-Johnson
AFB, NC) (BB)
11 Nov 1973
SR-71A #964, Flown in "Giant Reach" ops; USAF Pilot/RSO:
Jim Wilson/ Bruce Douglas (BB)
15 Nov 1973
"Giant Reach" ops moved to Seymour-Johnson AFB, NC (OL-SB)
(BB)
2 Dec 1973
SR-71A #964, Flown in "Giant Reach" ops;USAF Pilot/RSO:
Jim Sullivan/ Noel Widdifield (BB)
10 Dec 1973
SR-71A #979, Flown in "Giant Reach" ops; USAF Pilot/RSO:
Pat Bledsoe/ Reg Blackwell (BB)
21 Jan 1974
9 SRW Aircrew won 15th Air Force Recon Crew of Year Award
25 Jan 1974
SR-71A #971, Flown in "Giant Reach" ops; USAF Pilot/RSO:
"Buck" Adams/ William Machorek (BB)
7 Mar 1974
SR-71A #979, Flown in "Giant Reach" ops; USAF Pilot/RSO:
Ty Judkins/ G.T. Morgan (BB)
6 Apr 1974
SR-71A #979, Flown in "Giant Reach" ops; USAF Pilot/RSO:
Lee Ransom/ Mark Gersten (BB)
30 Apr 1974
9 SRW Maintenance Complex receives 15th Air Force Haskell Grey
Award for outstanding aircraft maintenance in 1973 (9RW)
9 Aug 1974
Det 1, 9 SRW activated at Kadena AB replacing OL-KA (SME; 9RW)
1 Sep 1974
First SR-71A visit to UK; setting World Record NY to London, 1817
mph, dist: 3490 nmi, in 1 hour 54 minutes 56.4 seconds in SR-71A
#972, USAF Pilot/RSO: Jim Sullivan/Noel Widdifield (BB)
12 Sep 1974
First attempt to set London to LA record, returned due to oil
light
13 Sep 1974
SR-71A #972 set World Record London to LA 5645 miles in 3 hours
47 min. 35.8 sec., USAF Pilot/RSO: "Buck" Adams/William
Machorek (BB)
Jan 1975
Clarence "Kelly" Johnson retires as Head of the Skunk
Works
6 Jan 1975
9 SRW selected Outstanding SAC Recon Organization for 1974 (9RW)
17 Jan 1975
Ben Rich becomes Head of the Skunk Works
18 Jan 1975
9 SRW won 15 Air Force Recon unit and Aircrew of Year
12 Mar 1975
OL-SB was inactivated at Seymour-Johnson AFB, NC
Apr 1975
TDY Operations start at RAF Mildenhall, UK(Det 4)(BB)
15 May 1975
SR-71A #976 flew in support of Mayaquez incident, USAF Pilot/RSO:
B.C. Thomas/ Jay Reid
18 Jun 1975
Joseph T. Vida flies for the first time in a SR-71 as RSO; became
High-time crew member with 1,392.7 hrs (BB)
30 Jun 1975
Col. J. H. Storrie becomes 9 SRW Commander thru 29 Sep 1977 (9RW)
20 Nov 1975
SR-71A #959 in "Big Tail" configuration does high speed
taxi-tests, Lockheed Test Pilot/RSO: Darrell Greenamyer/ Steven
Belgau (SME)
3 Dec 1975
First flight of SR-71A #959 in "Big Tail" configuration,
Lockheed Test Pilot/RSO: Darrell Greenamyer/ Steven Belgau (LSW)
20 Apr 1976
TDY ops started at RAF Mildenhall in SR-71A #972, USAF Pilot/RSO:
Pat Bledsoe/ John Fuller (SME)
Apr 1976
First ops sortie from Det 4 in SR-71A #972, USAF Pilot/RSO: Maury
Rosenberg/ Don Bulloch (SME)
30 Apr 1976
SR-71A #972, returned to Beale AFB, CA after 10 day deployment
to RAF Mildenhall, UK (SME)
5 May 1976
First flight of SR-71A #959 in "Big Tail" configuration
by USAF Pilot/ RSO: Tom Pugh/ Jim Carnochan
1 May 1976
USAF consolidates SR-71 and U-2 operations at Beale AFB, CA (9RW)
27 Jul 1976
SR-71A sets World Record Closed 100KM Course, Speed: 2092 mph,
USAF Pilot/ RSO: A. Bledsoe/ John Fuller (LSB; LSW; BB)
28 Jul 1976
SR-71A #962 set an Altitude World Record of 85,068.997 ft, USAF
Pilot/RSO: BobHelt/Larry Elliott (LSB; BB)
28 Jul 1976
SR-71A #958 set a World Straight 15 & 25 KM Course Record
with a speed of 2193 mph, USAF Pilot/ RSO: Eldon Joersz/ George
Morgan (LSB; BB)
4 Jul 1976
SR-71A #959 "Big Tail" flown to 3 Mach by USAF Pilot/RSO:
Tom Pugh/ ???
6 Sep 1976
SR-71A #962 arrives at RAF Mildenhall, UK for a 12 day deployment
(SME)
28 Oct 1976
Last Flight of SR-71A #963; (now on display at Beale AFB, CA flightline)
(LSW)
29 Oct 1976
Last Flight of SR-71A #959 "Big Tail", USAF Pilot/RSO:
Tom Pugh/ William Frazier; (Now on display at USAF Armament Museum,
Eglin AFB, FL, (transported by trucked)) (SME; LSW)
7 Jan 1977
SR-71A #958 arrives at RAF Mildenhall for 10 day deployment (SME)
2 Feb 1977
Last Flight of SR-71A #961, was used as parts aircraft; (on display
at Cosmosphere and Space Center, Hutcinson, KS) (LSW, JSS)
1 Sep 1977
Det 51 reorganized to Det 6, Norton AFB, CA reporting to 2762
Logistics Sq (LSB)
30 Sep 1977
Col. L. M. Kidder becomes 9 SRW Commander thru 31 Jan 1979 (9RW)
24 Feb 1978
9 SRW wins 15 Air Force Recon Unit of Year Award for 1977 (9RW)
31 Mar 1978
9 SRW awarded USAF Outstanding Unit Award for 1 Jul 1975- 30 Jun
1976 (9RW)
28 Sep 1978
Last and 88th Flight of NASA YF-12C(SR-71A #951) (LSW)
28 Oct 1978
YF-12C(SR-71A #951) retired from NASA (LSW)
7 Nov 1978
Cuban Overflights renewed thru Apr 1983 (BB)
1 Feb 1979
Col. F. Shelton 9 SRW Commander thru 16 Jul 1980 (9RW)
12 Mar 1979
SR-71A #972 arrives at Det 4 for recon of Saudi Arabia & Yeman
tensions, USAF Pilot/RSO: Rich Graham/ Don Emmons (SME)
28 Mar 1979
SR-71A #972 returns to Beale AFB, CA after deployment to Det 4,
USAF Pilot/ RSO: Rich Graham/ Dom Emmons (SME)
31 Mar 1979
Det 4(RAF Mildenhall) activated (LSB; BB)
17 Apr 1979
SR-71A #979 deployed to Det 4 till 2 May (SME)
18 Oct 1979
SR-71A #976 deployed to Det 4 till 13 Nov (SME)
31 Oct 1979
Last Flight of NASA YF-12A #6935, and end of flight test program
(BB)
7 Nov 1979
The last remaining YF-12A #6935 flown to USAF Museum at Wright-Patterson
AFB, OH; Pilot/RSO: Jim Sullivan/Uppstrum (AM1; LSW; BB)
18 May 1980
Mt. St. Helens disaster relief flights (LSB; BB)
1 Jul 1980
SR-71A #962 flies from Kadena AB to Diego Garcia to test facility,
USAF Pilot/ RSO: BobCrowder/ Don Emmons (SME; RG)
Aug 1980
Honeywell starts conversion of analog flight & inlet control
system(AFICS) to digital automatic flight & inlet control
system(DAFICS) (SME)
Oct 1980
SR-71A #955 flys S-Band Space Transponder to evaluate C-Band tracking,
communication & navigation system for Space Shuttle (LSB)
6 Mar 1981
SR-71A #972 deployed to det 4 till 5 May 1981 (SME)
6 May 1981
Refueling tests with KC-10 #N110KC and SR-71A #955, USAF Pilot/RSO:
Calvin Jewett/Bill Flanagan (SME)
1 Aug 1981
4029 Strategic Recon Training Sq formed to train SR-71 crews (BB)
12 Aug 1981
SR-71A #964 had to divert to Bodo, Norway, with low engine oil
problem arose, USAF Pilot/RSO: B.C. Thomas/ Jay Reid (SME)
16 Aug 1981
SR-71A #964 returned from being diverted to Bodo, Norway, was
nicknamed "Bodonian Express" USAF Pilot/RSO: B. C. Thomas/
Jay Reid (LSB; SME)
31 Aug 1981
C. L. "Kelly" Johnson announces that the SR-71 has had
over 1000 missiles launches against it, but none successful (BB)
15 Jan 1982
SR-71B #956 flies it's 1000th Sortie (LTR)
24 Feb 1982
9 SRW wins the 15 Air Force Outstanding Recon Wing and Crew for
1981 (9RW)
Jun 1982
Internal Navigation System(INS) changed to Singer-Kearfott SKN-2417
from the gyro flight reference system (SME)
20 Jul 1982
Col. T. S. Pugh becomes 9 SRW Commander thru 22 Jul 1983 (9RW)
17 Mar 1983
SR-71A # 955 conducted aerial refueling tests with KC-10, USAF
Pilot/ RSO: Thomas Tilden/ J.T. Vida (SME)
18 Apr 1983
SAC awards the 9 SRW the Outstanding Unit Award for 1 Jul 1981
thru 20 Jun 1982 (9RW)
1 Jul 1983
SR-71A #955 flies the first ASARS-1 familiarization flight, USAF
Pilot/ RSO: B.C. Thomas/ John Morgan (SME)
9 Jul 1983
SR-71A #955 arrives at Det 4, as #962, to test ASARS-1 (SME)
23 Jul 1983
Col. D. H. Pinsky becomes 9 SRW Acting Commander thru 3 Aug 1983
(9RW)
4 Aug 1983
Col. G. V. Freese becomes 9 SRW Commander thru 28 Jan 1985 (9RW)
10 Nov 1983
9 SRW awarded Best Active Duty Tanker Unit and best unit in SAC
Bombing and Navigation competition (9RW)
5 Apr 1984
British Government announces that they will permit 2 SR-71s to
be based at RAF Mildenhall, UK(Det 4) (SME)
1 Nov 1984
9 SRW Tanker crew awarded the Navigation Trophy in the SAC Bombing
and Navigation Competition (9RW)
7 Nov 1984
First Nicaraguan SR-71 overflights from Beale AFB; USAF Pilot/RSO:
Bob Behler/ Ron Tabor (flew 3 of 6 sorties) (SME; BB)
24 Jan 1985
Last flight and 722nd sortie of SR-71A #955, USAF Pilot/RSO: Thomas
Tilden/ Bill Flanagan (SME)
28 Jan 1985
Col. D. H. Pinsky becomes 9 SRW Commander thru 17 Jul 1987 (9RW)
28 Jan 1985
SR-71A #955 did runway roughness evaluation then was parked at
Palmdale, CA; USAF Pilot/RSO: Thomas Tilden/Bill Flanagan; (now
on display at USAF Flight Test Center museum, Edwards AFB, CA)
(SME; LSW)
20 Apr 1985
Gen Jerry O'Malley & wife Diane and Crew of T-39 were killed
when landing in Western Pennsylvania (SME)
8 Aug 1985
SR barns at RAF Mildenhall used for the first time by SR-71A #962
(LSB)
18 Sep 1985
USAF Awards Jerome F. O'Malley Award for Best Recon Crew to USAF
Pilot/RSO: Bob Behler/ Ron Tabor (9RW; PH)
Nov 1985
Honeywell completes conversion of SR from analog to digital auto.
flight & inlet controls systems (SME)
7 Jan 1986
20th Anniversary of the SR-71s arrival at Beale AFB, CA
8 Feb 1986
9 SRW won 15th Air Force Outstanding Recon Wing for 1985 (9RW)
15 Apr 1986
SR-71A #980 performs post bombing damage assessment flights of
Libya in support of Operation "Eldorado Canyon", USAF
Pilot/RSO: Jerry Glasser/ Ron Tabor (SME; BB)
15 Apr 1986
First operational use of KC-10s(#30079; #30082; #30075) as refueling
aircraft for SR-71 (TU; LSB; SME)
16 Apr 1986
SR-71A #960 performs post bombing damage assessment flights of
Libya in support of Operation "Eldorado Canyon", USAF
Pilot/RSO: Brian Shul/ Walter Watson (BB; TU)
17 Apr 1986
SR-71A #980 performs post bombing damage assessment flights of
Libya in support of Operation "Eldorado Canyon", USAF
Pilot/RSO: Bernie Smith/ Denny Whalen (BB; TU)
17 Jul 1987
Col. R. H. Graham becomes 9 SRW Commander thru 28 Nov 1988 (9RW)
21 Jul 1987
Last Flight of SR-71A #973; (Now on display at Blackbird Airpark,
Palmdale, CA) (LSW)
22 Jul 1987
Persian Gulf missions from Det 4; SR-71A #967; USAF Pilot/RSO:
Smith/ Doug Soifer
9 Aug 1987: SR-71A #975
26 Oct 1987: SR-71A #967
30 Apr 1988: SR-71A #974 (BB)
20 Oct 1987
USAF Pilot/RSO: Warren MacKendree/ Randy Shelhorse fly from Kadena
AB to Iran on a Giant Express mission to look for Silkworm missile
batteries in Iran during Iran-Iraq War (SME)
5 Mar 1988
1 Strategic Reconnaissance Squadron celebrates 75th Anniversary,
it is the oldest unit in the USAF (AFM)
6 Dec 1988
Col J. S. Savarda becomes 9 SRW Commander thru 12 Jun 1990 (9RW;
BB)
21 Apr 1989
SR-71A #974 crashes off coast of Philippines, last SR lost by
USAF crew (to date), USAF Pilot/RSO: Dan House/Blair Bozek (SME;
LSW)
1 Oct 1989
USAF SR-71 operations suspended except for minimum proficiency
flights (LSW; BB)
22 Nov 1989
USAF SR-71 program officially terminated (Thanks Larry Welch)
(SME; LSW; BB)
21 Jan 1990
Last SR-71 #962 left Kadena AB(Det 1) for Beale AFB, at 0500,
Tail art: A tombstone which read: "Det 1 RIP 1968-1990"
(BM)
26 Jan 1990
SR-71 is decommissioned at Beale AFB, CA (LSW)
26 Jan 1990
Last Flight of SR-71A #960 (this was the high mission SR) from
Beale AFB, CA to Castle AFB, CA; USAF Pilot/RSO: Steven Grzebiniak/
Jim Greenwood (LSW)
12 Feb 1990
Last flight of SR-71A #968, Beale AFB to Palmdale, CA, (now in
flyable storage at AF Plant 2) (LSW)
14 Feb 1990
Last flight of SR-71As #962 & #967, Beale AFB to Palmdale,
CA, was in flyable storage at AF Plant 2; #967 now being flown
by USAF Det 2, Edwards AFB, CA (LSW)
23 Feb 1990
Last Flight of SR-71A #958 (holds World Speed Record set 27-28
July '76), Beale AFB to Robins AFB, GA, USAF Pilot/RSO: Don Watkins/
Bob Fowlkes (LSW)
28 Feb 1990
Last Flight of SR-71A #975, Beale AFB to March AFB, CA, USAF Pilot:
Steven Grzebiniak/ Jim Greenwood (LSW)
6 Mar 1990
SR-71A #972 Last Flight and sets 4 World Records, Palmdale, Ca
to Dulles Intl. Airport; USAF Pilot/RSO: Ed Yeilding/ J.T. Vida
US Coast to Coast(2086nmi): 67m.
54 s for 2124.5 mph
Los Angeles to Washington, DC(1998 nmi): 64 m. 54 s. for 2144.8
mph
Kansas City to Washington, DC(942.08nmi): 25 m 58.53s for 2176
mph
St. Louis to Cincinnati, OH(311.44nmi): 8 m 31.97s for 2189.94
mph
(LSW; BB)
6 Mar 1990
Last Flight of SR-71A #979, Beale AFB to Lackland AFB, TX; USAF
Pilot/ RSO: Steven Grzebiniak/ Stanley Gudmundson (LSW)
20 Mar 1990
Last Flight of SR-71A #964, Beale AFB to Offutt AFB, NE; USAF
Pilot/ RSO: Terry Pappas/ Mike Finan (LSW; BB)
27 Mar 1990
Last Flight of SR-71A #976 , Beale AFB to USAF Museum at Wright-Patterson
AFB, OH;USAF Pilot/RSO: Don watkins/ Bob Fowlkes (this SR flew
first operational sortie 21 Mar 1968) (LSW; BB; PH)
22 Dec 1990
Clarence "Kelly" Johnson dies at the age of 80
23 Dec 1990
Ben Rich retires as the Head of the Skunk Works
1 Jul 1991
NASA Pilot: Steve Ishmael initial flight in SR-71B #956 (BB)
25 Jul 1991
SR-71B #956(NASA #831) Officially delivered to NASA Dryden, Edwards
AFB, CA (BB)
Oct 1991
Marta Bohn-Mayer becomes first Female SR crew-member (BB)
27 Oct 1991
A-12 art. #128/#6931 delivered to Minnesota ANG Museum, by NY
ANG C-5 (SME; JG)
19 Sep 1992
Joseph T. Vida (high time SR Crew member) passes away (RG)
9 Mar 1993
NASA's first flight test in SR-71 (LSW)
28 Sep 1994
Congress votes to allocate $100 million for reactivation of 3
SR-71s (RG)
5 Jan 1995
Ben Rich dies at the age of 69 (AWST)
12 Jan 1995
SR-71A NASA #832 (USAF #971) flown from Edwards AFB, CA to Palmdale,
CA for overhaul before USAF "borrows" it; NASA Pilot/RSO:
Steve Ishmael/ Marta Bohn-Mayer (AFNS; LS)
Mar 1995
ACC selected three crews for the reactivation of the SR-71, Pilots:
Gil Luloff, Tom McCleary, Don Watkins; and RSOs: Blair Bozek,
Michael Finan, Jim Greenwood (RG)
26 Apr 1995
SR-71A #971 (ex-NASA #832) flown for the first time after reactivation
and renovation at Air Force Plant 42, Palmdale, CA; NASA Crew:
Ed Schneider, Marta Bohn-Meyer; Sortie #1054-1; Low and slow (AS
#1)
28 Jun 1995
First reactivated SR-71 returns to USAF invetory, Dennis E. Thompson
(Lockheed) presented SR-71 #971 to Gen. Bill Rutledge (9RW CO)
in a ceremony at Air Force Plant 42 (AFNS; AWST)
30 Jun 1995
First USAF crew flies reactivated SR-71 #971
25 Jul 1995
First solo USAF (Lt. Cols. Gil Luloff, Mike Finan) crew flies
reactivated SR-71 #971; 80,100 ft at Mach 3.23 for 2.5 hours;
Sortie #1060-7 (AS #1)
28 Aug 1995
SR-71A #967 makes "maiden" flight after beingrefurbished
by Lockheed Martin Skunk Works; NASA crew: Ed Scneider, Bob Meyer;
Sortie #854-1; Low and slow (LS & AS #1)
29 Aug 1995
Crew #1 Mission Ready (MR) Lt. Cols. Luloff and Finan (AS #1)
17 Jan 1996
Lt. Cols. Don Watkins and Jim Greenwood make solo flight in SR-
71A #971; 80,100 ft at Mach 3.25 for 2.5 hour, Sortie #105-22,
from Palmdale, CA (AS #1)
30 Jan 1996
SR-71 #967 Leaves Palmdale and arrives at Edwards AFB, CA Det2/
9RW at approx. 1:30pm; after a 1.5 hour flight; USAF Pilot/RSO:
Tom McCleary/ Michael Finan (TL)
1 Feb 1996
Second aircraft dleivered to Det. 2/ 9 RW, Edwards AFB, CA from
Palmdale, CA; SR-71A #971; USAF Pilot/RSO: Lt. Cols. Tom McCleary/
Mike Greenwood; 77,200 ft at Mach 3.05 for 2.7 hours (AS #1)
15 Feb 1996
SR-71 #967 First flight test of real time data tranmission at
Det 2; USAF Pilot/RSO: Lt. Cols. Tom McCleary/Mike Finan; 72,700
ft at Mach 3.01 for 3.1 hours (AS #1 & AWST)
15 Apr 1996
Deputy Defense Secretary John White, directed the Air Force to
ground the Air Force's SR-71s due to conflicting language in section
304 of the National Security Act of 1947, and Section 102 of the
Intelligence Authorization Act for FY-96 ( -Inside the Air Force;
RG; AWST)
21 Sep 1996
House and Senate Appropriation committees have agreed to fund
the Air Force's 2 operational SR-71s for Fiscal Year 1997. (-RG;
RON)
1 Jan 1997
SR-71 and crews are operational at Det 2, Edwards AFB, CA (RG;
AFNS)
18 Apr 1997
Col. Charles Simpson assumes command of 9th RW, from Brig. Gen
Robert Behler (SS)
19 Aug 1997
The first new Air Force SR-71 crew in nine years soloed today
at Det 2 Edwards AFB, CA. Major Bert Garrison(Pilot) and Capt.
Domingo Ochotorena(RSO) (SS)
26 Aug 1997
NASA mated the LASRE engine with NASA SR-71 #844 (PM; RON)
Sep 1997
Second new crew was selected to fly the SR-71; Capt Greg Barker(Pilot),
Capt Dale Zimmerman(RSO) (RG)
15 Oct 1997
President Clinton Kills SR Funding with Line Item Veto (RG, AH,
ABC News)
31 Oct 1997
NASA SR-71 #844 (AF #980/Lockheed #2031) Flew for the first time
with the Aerospike engine piggybacked on it, this is the first
in a series of flights in the LASRE(Linear Aerospike and SR-71
Experiment). It reached a speed of Mach 1.19 at an altitude of
27,000-33,000 ft. (NASA, AWST)
Information for this timeline
was researched from these sources:
ADR -A. D. Rossetti
AH -Art Hanley
AM1 -"Aerofax Minigraph #1" Jay Miller
AFNS -USAF News Service
AS1 -Anonymous Source #1
AWST -Aviation Week & Space Technology
BB -Buddy Brown
BIA -"SR-71 Blackbird in Action" Lou Drendel
BM -Bob Miller
CC -Dr. Coy Cross
HF -High flyer(new name for Beale AFB newspaper)
LB -"Lockheed Blackbirds" Anthony M. Thornborough &
Peter E. Davies
LS -Lockheed Skunk Works Star
LSB -"Lockheed SR-71 Blackbird" Paul F. Crickmore
LSW -"Lockheed's Skunk Works-The First 50 Years" Jay
Miller
LTR -Lockheed Tech Rep
NASA -National Air and Space Administration Public Affiars
PH -Pat Halloran
PM -Peter Merlin
RG -Richard H. Graham
RK -Ron Kloetzli
RLL -Lt. Col. Russell L. Lewis
RON -Ron Girouard
SD -"Sled Driver" Brian Shul
SME -"Lockheed SR-71: The Secret Missions Exposed" Paul
F. Crickmore
SS -Space Sentinel(Beale AFB news paper, see also "HF")
SW -"Skunk Works" Ben Rich & Leo Janos
TB -Tony Bevacqua
TL -Tony Landis
UN -"The Untouchables" Brian Shul & Walter Watson
9RW -9th Reconnaissance Wing History
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