SR-71A/YF-12A "Blackbird" speeds & years in service

Submitted by Dan Schwartz (United States), Jun 5, 2007 at 08:34

Michael, on my biannual (or so) "after-Indy" visit to the Air Force Museum at Wright-Patterson AFB in Dayton, this time with my new fiancee, I took time to point out the >Mach 3.3 SR-71A on display. Note well that although (currently) unclassified data lists the first operational sortie flown was on 21 March 1968 over `Nam, in fact:

The first SR-71 to enter service was delivered to the 4200th (later, 9th) Strategic Reconnaissance Wing at Beale Air Force Base, California, in January 1966. The United States Air Force Strategic Air Command had SR-71 Blackbirds in service from 1966 through 1991.

So, my question to Michael: Were there any A-12/SR-71 recon flights in/around Israel in 1967, as well as 1973?

Dan Schwartz

Sayreville, NJ

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