Strategic Reconnaissance 1st Reconnaissance Squadron

a 1st srs sr-71b blackbird sits on runway after sundown

the sr-71 blackbird joined air force inventory in 1966. beale , several overseas operating locations, 1st strategic reconnaissance squadron conducted worldwide strategic reconnaissance missions, supporting national intelligence gathering requirements.

the blackbird‖ carried crew of two—a pilot , reconnaissance systems operator (rso). sr-71’s versatility included simple battlefield surveillance, multiple-sensor high-performance interdiction reconnaissance, , strategic surveillance on large areas of world. flying on 2,000 mph @ approximately 80,000 feet, sr-71 carried sensors 45 degree viewing angle on each side survey 100,000 square miles in hour.

the last flight of sr-71. in background sr-71 s/n 61-7972. foreground pilot lt. col. raymond ed e. yielding , rso ltcol. joseph jt vida march 6, 1990

following end of american involvement in southeast asia, 1st turned more peaceful accomplishment. spectacular of these sr-71 speed runs new york london , london los angeles. on 14 september 1974, major james sullivan, pilot , major noel widdifield, rso, flew sr-71 new york london in 1 hour, 55 minutes, 42 seconds average speed of 1,817 mph. bettered old record set raf f-4 phantom jet of 4 hours, 46 minutes set in 1969. sr-71 crew of captain harold adams, pilot, , major william machorek, rso, established record london los angeles route when flew 5,645 mile leg in 3 hours, 48 minutes on 13 september.

because of budgetary reasons air force retired sr-71 in july 1990. in march 1990, on final journey california washington d.c. became part of collection @ smithsonian institution, sr-71 flown 1st srs made coast-to-coast trip in record time of 68 minutes, 17 seconds—at record speed of 2,242.48 mph.

flying sr-71, squadron awarded presidential unit citation period 31 march – 31 december 1968, , air force outstanding unit award combat v device period 1 july 1972 – 30 june 1973. 1st srs received ten air force outstanding unit awards periods 1 july – 30 june of years 1967–1968, 1970–1971, 1971–1972, 1975–1977, 1981–1982, 1983–1984, 1985–1986, 1986–1987, 1989–1990, , 1991–1993.