969 posing for the cover of the office Beale AFB guidebook - photo copyright © Don Person
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969 posing for the cover of the office Beale AFB guidebook - photo copyright © Don Person
| The above photo was taken on January 25, 1967. Explains TSgt Don Person, her first crew chief, "It is the first flight at Beale after about 3 months of fuel cell leaks. My SR-71 fellow crew chiefs went as far as to hang a plastic lemon on the pitot tube! Col. Doug Nelson our wing commander flew the first flight. I did not notice a group of maintenance people hanging around outside the launch shelter during engine start. When I disconnected communications to the flight crew and turned around I saw them lined up - what a surprise! They came to attention as 969 taxied out and saluted as 969 turned left and passed in review." |
| 969 was lost on May 1, 1970. After an in-flight refueling, she was climbing back to operational altitude when she encountered a tremendous thunderstorm that she was unable to avoid. Both engines flamed out and could not be restarted. Maj. William Lawson and RSO Maj. Gil Martinez ejected safely. |
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