The Blackbird
Unofficially referred to as the “Blackbird,” the SR-71 was a long-range, Mach 3+ strategic reconnaissance aircraft that was developed from the Lockheed A-12 and YF-12A.
Dec. 22, 1964, saw the first SR-71 flight, and in January 1966, the 4200th (later 9th) Strategic Reconnaissance Wing at Beale Air Force Base, California, received the first SR-71 to enter service.
It was capable of Mach 3 and still holds the record for the fastest “air-breathing manned aircraft” in the world. Its speed and ability to operate at high altitudes served as a defensive feature; when attacked by surface-to-air missiles, the pilot needed only to accelerate to avoid being struck. Only 32 SR-71s were operated during its 34-year service history, and though 12 were destroyed in accidents, none were lost to enemy attack.
RAF Greenham Common Women’s Peace Camp
In 1981, a group of women, upset by the choice to position cruise missiles (guided nuclear missiles) in the UK, coordinated a protest march from Cardiff, Wales, to RAF Greenham Common located near Newbury in Berkshire. At this site, they established what came to be known as the Greenham Common Women’s Peace Camp.
As reported by the Imperial War Museum, from 1981 to 1983, the protesters sought to disrupt construction activities at the base. Their tactics involved blocking access to the base and cutting down parts of the fence. In December 1982, over 30,000 women came together at Greenham to form a human chain around the base during the ‘Embrace the Base’ event.
The International Air Tattoo (IAT) 1983 was also held at RAF Greenham Common. BC Thomas, an SR-71 pilot, shared the video in this post on his YouTube channel. The footage features a Blackbird, piloted by Thomas with John G. Morgan serving as RSO, as it arrives at Greenham Common for the 1983 International Air Tattoo.
Thomas recalls in the video description;
‘I was the pilot in this video but did not fly the SR-71 out of RAF Greenham Common. I was the “mobile control” officer when the aircraft departed, and the pilot was Maj. Jim Jiggens, a USAF Thunderbird pilot and formally a US Army helicopter combat pilot in Vietnam.
Protest women throw paint on SR-71
‘On the evening of the air show featured in this video, women, who were protesting President Reagan’s decision to station intermediate nuclear missiles in England, broke into the security cordon around the air show aircraft and threw paint on several, including this SR-71.
‘Owing to the unique metals associated with the SR-71, the removal of the paint required special maintenance procedures to assure that no “hot spot” would develop on subsequent flights. It was quite a hassle, and we were not amused over this incident. Jim and I planned a farewell departure for the protesters who were encamped in a squalor of tents just outside the main gate.
SR-71 buzzes RAF Greenham Common Women’s Peace Camp
‘Jim obtained clearance for a “closed pattern” and turned to a downwind leg, descended to about 50 feet above the ground, and flew directly over the protestors’ encampment. It was early and probably most were asleep, but not for long. Jim was flying about 250 knots and selected afterburner in both engines as he was approaching the tents. As the SR-71 accelerated to 350-400 knots, he pulled up and focused the plume (and noise) directly on the protesters. It was a magnificent sight.’
Thomas concludes;
‘As we were leaving the base immediately after Jim’s departure, the gate guard (British) said to me, “I say, that was a jolly good show, but next time, please warn me before you do it.” I also had the honor to prefer charges against the women, but the British government later declined to prosecute.’
In 1987, US President Ronald Reagan and Soviet President Mikhail Gorbachev signed the Intermediate-range Nuclear Forces (INF) Treaty, which paved the way for the removal of cruise missiles from Greenham.
Today Greenham no longer belongs to the military. Part of it is a business park; the rest is common land.
Check out Habubrats SR-71‘s Twitter profile, SR71Habubrats‘s Instagram profile and Born into the Wilde Blue Yonder Habubrats‘s Facebook page for further Blackbird photos and stories.
Photo by Mike Freer – Touchdown-aviation via Wikipedia