The SR-71 Blackbird

SR-71 Blackbird News/Events

Here's a listing of some notable Blackbird missions. Some that changed history.

Also, at times various museum and other organizations hold special events to discuss and educate the public on the Blackbird program.

A-12 (0924) First Flight
25 April 1962

A-12 (0924) First Flight

The A-12’s first flight–unofficial and unannounced in keeping with a Lockheed tradition–took place on 25 (26?) April 1962 and almost caused the loss of the only OXCART aircraft built so far. 

First Sustained Flight at Design Limits
03 February 1964

First Sustained Flight at Design Limits

On Feb 3, 1964, an A-12 Blackbird flew March 3.2 at 83,000 feet for 10 minutes

SR-71A First Flight
22 December 1964

SR-71A First Flight

The first flight of an SR-71 took place at the Air Force Plant 32, Palmdale, Calforinia

First Flight of M21 (SR-71) Carrying D-21 Drone)
22 December 1964

First Flight of M21 (SR-71) Carrying D-21 Drone)

First Flight of SR-71 and M-21 carrying D-21 drone

First Operational Black Shield Mission over Vietnam
31 May 1967

First Operational Black Shield Mission over Vietnam

Mel Vojvodich (CIA) flew A12 #937 out of Kadena on the First Operational Black Shield Mission.

A-12 Blackbird Confirms USS Pueblo Seized by Korea
26 January 1968

A-12 Blackbird Confirms USS Pueblo Seized by Korea

On January 23, 1968 the USS Pueblo was seized by the North Korean government. Confirmation was made by an A-12 Blackbird.

21 March 1968

First Operational Sortie from Det 1, Kadena

On 21 March 1968, USAF SR-71 #974 flew the First Operational sortie over Vietnam, piloted by Jerry O'Malley and RSO Ed Paine.

02 May 1972

The SR-71 Secret Sonic Boom Message Over Vietnam

In 1964 during the Vietnam War U.S. aviators were captured by the North Vietnamese. Paul F Crickmore shares the story of how two SR-71 Blackbirds generated tri-sonic booms to free captured US prisoners of war in his book Lockheed Blackbird: Beyond the Secret Missions (Revised Edition).

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