On Apr. 21, 1989, SR-71 # 974, better known as Ichiban, departed Kadena Air Base (AB) on a mission. At the controls were Pilot Lt. Col Dan House and RSO Blair Bozek. As #974 accelerated through three times the speed of sound, the left compressor bearing froze, causing the immediate disintegration of the port engine and resultant explosion from the catastrophic failure sending shrapnel through critical hydraulic lines.

Lt Col House managed to slow #974 and even descend below 10 thousand feet. Both crewmembers ejected safely and were quickly rescued by local fishermen in the waters below.

When was the recovery team walking along the beach looking for the lost SR 71 local fisherman? Asking in perfect English, “ Do you want to know where the airplane went down? The fisherman’s put three sticks in the sand to mark the spot. SR-71 was 120 feet down in the water.

The Navy came to the rescue and brought the downed SR 71 out of the sea. Remains were put in a hanger at Kadena Air Force Base. It was a very sad time for the SR 71 family. This was the very last crash of an SR 71 prior to that there had not been a crash since 1972. A crew had an exciting time after they safely ejected it.

The Mayor of the local town nearby picked them up in his boat and took them to a party. The mayor was very excited about his new guests. Recovery team lost the crew temporarily after the mayor swept them awayin their boat. When they were located the Wing Commander ask them to prove who they were,by giving the room number of the secret bar! The Habu‘s had a secret bar that everybody knew about. Blair shouted B-318 into his radio then they knew they had the real Habu.They passed that test.

It is rumored that the mayor received the pilot seat, and it’s still sitting in his home to this day! 

Written by Linda Sheffield Miller c@