Skunk Works Mailing List
FWD: (TLC-Mission) A-12, the summer of "67"
Date: Thu, 26 Aug 1999 22:57:50 -0700
From: "Terry W. Colvin"
Subject: FWD: (TLC-Mission) A-12, the summer of "67"
A lot of the A-12 (Oxcart) project revolved around the testing of
SR-71/YF-12A/D-21 drone projects. The majority of tests were done at Area
51, Nevada, as the A-12 were kept there. They belonged to the CIA, not the
Air Force. The YF-12A interceptor version was made somewhat visible to the
public, so if an aircraft was spotted somewhere you would automatically
assume it was a YF-12A. One must understand the flying of spyplanes, by the
Air Force, was revoked after the Powers incident in 1960. The Air Force did
not resume operational missions until the SR-71 deployment.
The government states the first operational mission of a SR-71 was flown from
Kadena AB, Okinawa on May 31, 1967. Filming the Chinese detonating their
first atomic bomb was also done at around this time, by a SR-71 our
government states. Actually the aircraft used for these missions were the
A-12. The government doesn't officially admit this, even today.
During May 1967 A-12's 60-6930, 60-6932, and 60-6937 were deployed to Det. 1
Kadena AB. They were pawned off to the layman as SR-71. These aircraft had
no visible markings except a small red tail number painted on them. Missing
was the rear cockpit that ALL SR-71 have.
I deployed with the 2nd group of TDY personnel from Beale AFB, to Kadena AB
in July of 1967. Our initial deployment to support the CIA were 10 KC-135Q
tankers. The tankers were sent to Kadena in April 1967, prior to the A-12
movement. The KC-135Q received special modifications in the early 60's to
refuel the A-12, and later the SR-71 and U-2. There were originally 21 of
these aircraft at Beale. In the late 60's the Air Force modified more
aircraft, drawn from Littlerock and Mc Coy AFB's to bring the total to 46.
The TDY to Kadena was an interesting affair. Actually it was a royal pain
the butt! As this was a brand new detachment, there basically were no
facilities for us. The A-12's were in 3 little hangers right in the middle
of SAC's "Young Tiger Task Force" on the north side of the base. The only
thing interesting in the area was the Special Forces museum on the road into
the place. We had a small room for the classified equipment, such as the
ARC-50 UHF radio system and the Rendezvous TACAN, but everything else would
have to be worked out of the "Tiger" facilities. Somebody had decided that
since we were adding an additional 10 tankers to the ramp we would be
attached to the "Tiger" outfit. Their immediate interpretation of this no
brainer was we worked for them first, and ourselves second. No one, with any
authority from our group did anything to help the situation either. We were
stuck!
The "Tiger" outfit couldn't work on our aircraft, as they weren't cleared for
access. We performed all maintenance on our own aircraft. We were housed in
their barracks and worked their schedule, in addition to whatever our mission
requirement was. All this led to some rather heated arguments. After an
initial crossing of swords right out of the gate with the AEMS Squadron C.O.,
(a real winner, as I recall) I immediately volunteered for the night shift.
At least I wouldn't have to burn that bridge anymore. We had a T-Sgt with us
who hid out in the classified equipment room for the 75 days we were there.
I still don't know how he got away with that trick.
The night radio shop NCOIC and I got along great! As nobody liked to ride
the truck for the nightly "Tiger" launch, I was automatically elected. I
didn't mind this because it killed a lot of time, sometimes twice a night,
except the go_ da___ mosquitoes ate you up. All the JP-4 in the air must
have sent them into a feeding frenzy. 50 or 60 tankers all in a line, idling
away, going thru their preflight checklist, and then launch one right after
another (about 45 seconds apart). The noise was deafening even with earplugs
in, and headset on. Thats OK, you couldn't sleep at the barracks on your
night off either, for the prevailing breeze blew all of the noise in that
general direction anyway! If you have never had the opportunity to hear a
J-57 with water injection, you have truly not experienced life!
The A-12 missions would generate an 18 hour day for us, separate from the
"Tiger" one. These missions did take precedence!!! The A-12 would fly north
to south, down all of Vietnam, and then refuel at or over U-Tapao. It would
then fly the same route south to north, for comparison photos, and return to
Kadena. What made the day so long was having to launch tankers at different
intervals, so they would arrive at the correct location on time, throughout
the mission. Other missions were flown over North Korea, China and during
the capture of the U.S.S. Pueblo.
The down time for maintenance on the A-12 (or SR-71) was extensive due to the
nature of the aircraft. The Chine bay covers all had to be removed for
access to the equipment, and these were not secured with dzuz fasteners. We
were required to remove, bench test and align, and then reinstall all
equipment. I felt extremely sorry for the instrument shop, as they were
required to remove and calibrate every one after each flight.
On March 8, 1968 Maj. Buddy Brown (pilot) and Maj. Dave Jenson (RSO) arrived
at Kadena in the first SR-71 (Senior Crown) from Beale, aircraft 64-17978.
Later that month two more arrived from Beale. As was previously discussed on
the Mission list, one A-12 was lost on June 2, 1968. The other two were
ferried back to Area 51 later in the month, and then transferred to Palmdale,
CA for storage. Kadena was the last operation in which the A-12 performed as
a spyplane. All operations thereafter were accomplished by the SR-71, period.
The deployment of the SR-71 also ended personnel being attached to the
"Tiger" outfit. Buildings had either been erected or procured by that time,
and separate quarters mysteriously appeared for the troops. Additional
tankers were stationed at Ching Chuan Kang AB in Taiwan, and U-Tapao AB in
Thailand. This was to shorten the flight time to the mission area.
There are a number of examples of these two aircraft on display across the
country. I strongly recommend if you have never seen one of these aircraft
close-up, go to see one sometime; as this is the GREATEST jet plane to date.
A contact of mine from Beale has informed me, within the past year, that the
present administration is attempting to have the backs broken, on all
remaining aircraft, so they will never be able to fly again. There are some
of both types in cold storage at Palmdale and Edwards AFB available for use
again, if the occasion presents itself. I can only guess what the real
motive, for such a drastic move must be!
I actually did enjoy my summer of "67" at Kadena. Okinawa was a great place
to be stationed in those days. Filet Mignon dinner $1.00 at the club.
Cigarettes $1.03 a carton at the commissary. The bars and nasons on BC
street, or ride the bus up to Moonlight Beach on a day off. Even the "Tiger"
fiasco had a upside, for I received several awards due to my being attached
to the "Young Tiger Task Force" later on.
Now you know if you happened to catch a glimpse of a SR-71 at Kadena in 1967,
what you were actually viewing was the infamous A-12 of the Central
Intelligence Agency. I know Habu, because I was there!!!!!
The B-58 was fat, but the XB-70 went 2,000 mph. I believe the F-4 Phantom
was also faster, over 1,800 mph in test.
"Hap" Wyman
Howard "Hap" Wyman
--
Terry W. Colvin, Sierra Vista, Arizona (USA) < fortean@primenet.com >
Home Page: < http://www.geocities.com/Area51/Shadowlands/8832 >
Sites: Fortean Times * Northwest Mysteries * Mystic's Cyberpage *
TLCB * U.S. Message Text Formatting (USMTF) Program
------------
Member: Thailand-Laos-Cambodia Brotherhood (TLCB) Mailing List
TLCB Web Site: < http://www.tlc-brotherhood.org >
Southeast Asia (SEA) service:
Vietnam - Theater Telecommunications Center/HHC, 1st Aviation Brigade
(Jan 71 - Aug 72)
Thailand/Laos
- Telecommunications Center/U.S. Army Support Thailand
(USARSUPTHAI), Camp Samae San (Jan 73 - Aug 73)
- Special Security/Strategic Communications - Thailand
(STRATCOM - Thailand), Phu Mu (Pig Mountain) Signal Site
(Aug 73 - Jan 74)
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Created: Fri Aug 27 02:25:24 EDT 1999