SR-71 - Landing at Grand Forks, ND ANG Base

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Subject: SR-71 - Landing at Grand Forks, ND ANG Base

Edited by David Barth, November 21, 2008

SR-71 two-cockpit trainer version in flight.
There were three models: SR-71B (two of these) and
one SR-71C which is on display at Hill AFB.

It appears that this picture was taken by the boom operator of a KC-135Q tanker because the boom receptacle is still open as though the boom has just been pulled out and because the wet streaks on the wings are probably JP-7 fuel that came out of the boom when it was removed. Notice that after tanking, the SR is breaking off to the left to clear the tanker and either begin an acceleration climb, probably to Mach 3+ and 80,000+ feet or to head to the base at Beale AFB. The mountains could be those of the California Sierras.

SR-71 in flight. This is the reconnaissance version
of which 29 were built.

It appears that this picture was also taken by the boom operator of a KC-135Q tanker because the boom receptacle is still open as though the boom has just been pulled out and because the wet streaks behind the boom receptacle on the wings are probably JP-7 fuel that came out of the boom when it was removed. Notice that after tanking, the SR is breaking off to the left to clear the tanker and probably begin an acceleration climb, probably to Mach 3+ and 80,000+ feet.

SR-71 aircraft, perhaps at Groom Lake (Area 51)
where the prototypes were test flown.

From Left: SR-71, KC135Q tanker that carried the special
JP-7 fuel, U2, and a T-38 used by SR-71 pilots to maintain their
flying skills and as a chase plane when an SR-71
was low and slow in the immediate area.

SR-71 at a corrugated steel Quonset revetment.

SR-71 tanking.
Taking on a full fuel load took about 15 minutes.

Preface: The author of this account is unknown, but he was probably a member of the Air Force and based at Grand Forks AFB during the SR-71 visit.

Around 1968 an SR-71 made an emergency landing at Grand Forks AFB and was parked between two B-52 hangers close to the North/South road that paralleled the base runway. The aircraft was completely visible to anyone using the road.

Immediately after landing, Grand Forks AFB security established machine gun nests close to the plane. The two man crew could not exit the plane until a C-130 arrived from Edwards AFB with the ground support equipment and aircraft technicians to evacuate the crew and fix the problem.

Of course, everyone on the base came to see the plane, and security had to control traffic. In a couple of days, the fixes were accomplished, and the SR-71 exited the base heading north. A few minutes later it returned at a very low altitude, at tremendous speed, in a fly-by. It was awesome and was probably witnessed by about everyone on the base.

SR-71 in flight