Requiem

After the final SR-71 flight on 26 January 1990 at Beale AFB, California, a plane-side ceremony retired the colors for the last time. Ben Rich, co-designer of the Blackbird family of aircraft and President of Lockheed's famed Skunk Works, sadly watched the two Air Force sergeants fold the flag.

Earlier, on 20 December 1989, Palmdale's SR-71 made a final pass down the Burbank runway to honor all those who worked in producing the greatest aircraft of the 20th Century. Ben Rich planned the flyby and had Kelly Johnson there to watch. Although too sick to get out of the limousine or say anything, Kelly had tears in his eyes as he heard the SR-71 roar past the crowd. Lockheed employee, Jim Norris stood there that day and watched the Blackbird pull up and disappear out of sight from the Burbank airport. As Jim watched the aircraft drift out of sight, he recalled the first flight of the SR-71. On that cold December day back in 1964, as the SR-71 pulled up out of sight and became no more than a dark pinpoint, a crew chief next to Jim murmured in awe of her beauty and grace, "Her enemies will never be natural." How difficult it must have been back in 1964, to predict that the Blackbird's only real enemies in the end, were as natural as you and I.

This SR-71 was cut up and is being swallowed by
a C-5 transport on its final trip to a museum.

"Curt Osterheld and I were called up to Mr. McGovern's office (at this particular time he was Acting Secretary of the Air Force) to discuss the program and its possible cancellation. He asked, "Why should I support the continuation of the SR-71 program?" Curt and I gave our normal, fact based reasons, one of which being the virtual invulnerability of the SR and the complimentary capabilities of the U-2. He said, "Why can't the U-2 do everything, it's high altitude and cheaper?" We explained how in an overflight situation, the U-2 could get shot down. His response was, "Well, we'll just have to send the U-2 to do the job, and when it gets shot down, we'll have an excuse to go in with our fighters and bombers."

Lt. Col. "Geno" Quist

Lt. Col. John Manzi

"Even as we celebrated SR-71 milestones and anniversaries, the Blackbird program was dying a slow and painful death. From 1988 through 1990, the squadron suffered budget cuts which grounded aircraft, the crews, and severely restricted flying hours. Through two complete budget cycles our hopes of saving the program were alternately raised and dashed by rumors from Washington. The final blow came late one evening when Congress sacrificed the program in the name of budgetary compromise. Numbed from the constant cycling of emotion, I actually felt relief when the axe finally fell on the program."

Over the years, many flying records were set by SR-71 crews. Those who were fortunate enough to set the official records, we ow a debt of gratitude. However, there's not a speed or altitude record on the books that most Habus have not surpassed at one time or another. Some of those unofficial records will remain with each and every Habu forever. The following list of lifetime achievements includes all of the Blackbird family (YF-12, A-12 and SR-71):

Total Operational Sorties: 3551
Total Hours: 53,490 Total, 11,008 Operational
Mach 3+ Time: 11,675 Total, 2,752 Operational
Total Sorties: 17,300
Total Persons to Mach 3: 389 (284 crew members and 105 VIPs)
Crew members over 300 hours: 163
Crew members over 600 hours: 69
Crew members over 900 hours: 18
Crew members over 1,000 hours: 8
Total number of operational SR-71 pilots: 93
Total number of operational SR-71 RSOs: 89
Most SR-71 flying time: Lt. Col. Joseph T. "JT" Vida with 1,492.7 hours.

Col. Lee Shelton

The last sortie, sending the jet home, was an event shared by everyone. We did not advertise the mission outside the Det, but ensured everyone within the Det knew and was able to participate; all Det personnel and their families. The tail was decorated with chalk the day prior with a tombstone and RIP motif. The sortie generated and launched before dawn. It was perfect in every detail, and there was not a dry eye on the ramp. If the jet and men who flew it ever had an ancestral home it was Kadena; not Burbank, not Edwards, Palmdale or Beale. Kadena was where we began; it is fitting, it's where we ended.

Inscription from plaque on "Habu Hill", Kadena AFB, Okinawa

"This vantage point is dedicated to the magnificent SR-71 Blackbird, known worldwide as the Habu-an Okinawan cobra of black, sinister appearance, great stealth, and lightning fast strike. The first SR-71 arrived at Kadena Air Base on 9 March 1968, and the last aircraft departed on 21 January 1990. Throughout those twenty-two years, the Habu roamed Pacific skies unchallenged, in war and peace, to ensure the freedom of the United States and her allies. Habu Hill stands as a memorial to the SR-71, the special men and women who sustained its strategic reconnaissance mission, and to all people who gather here and know that jet noise is truly the sound of freedom. Sayonara Habu. Detachment One, Ninth Strategic Reconnaissance Wing 1968-1990."

"During the final days, the squadron existed on paper only. The airplanes were gone, most of the crew members were reassigned, and the only work to be done was to relocate the memorabilia that had been collected around the world during the 25 year history of the aircraft. My final task while on active duty was to construct a memorial to the 1st SRS at the Beale museum. A small sized heritage room was recreated at the museum and outfitted to resemble the 1st SRS. The heritage room, the scrap books, the static SR-71, the friends, and the memories of the crew members are about all that is left of this great airplane and squadron."

Lt. Col. Rod Dyckman

Senator John Glenn

"Mr. President, the termination of the SR-71 was a grave mistake and could place our nation at a serious disadvantage in the event of a future crisis. Yesterday's historic transcontinental flight was a sad memorial to our shortsighted policy in strategic aerial reconnaissance."

Click on image to enlarge

On 6 March 1990, nearly two months after the SR-71 was officially retired from the Air Force, an SR-71 (972) accomplished history on a record breaking flight from Los Angeles to Washington, DC Pilot Ed Yielding and RSO Joseph T. "JT" Vida made the flight in 64 minutes, 54 seconds, averaging 2,144.8 mph, setting the coast- to- coast world speed record. On that historic event, aircraft 972 was turned over to the Smithsonian's National Air and Space Museum at Dulles International Airport.

Lt. Col. Joseph T. "JT" Vida was the first of my contemporaries to pass away. In giving 16 continuos years to flying the SR-71, JT knowingly sacrificed promotion, placing the program above his own personal gain. He was laid to rest after a long, courageous bout with cancer. Habus from all over the United States were present. After a 21-gun salute and taps, an Air Force Captain presented JT's flag to his wife, Sherry. A NASA F/A-18 provided the final tribute, a high speed flyby, in full afterburner on the deck, pulling up smartly out of sight. As the aircraft passed directly over the grave side ceremony, its high speed and treetop level pass created an overpressure, causing dozens of car alarms in the area to be activated. It was the perfect flyby for someone who deserved so much more. A group of Habus surrounded his casket, and Col. Tom Anderson gently placed a HABU patch on top of it before it was lowered. One final Habu salute to JT as Tom called out, "PRESENT, ARMS!...ORDER, ARMS!"

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