Table of Contents

Chapter 1 The Requirement Chapter 2 Rainbow and Gusto Chapter 3 Oxcart Chapter 4 Area 51 Chapter 5 Progress and Politics Chapter 6 Black Shield Chapter 7 Tagboard and Senior Bowl Chapter 8 Kedlock Chapter 9 Technical Chapter 10 From RS to SR and Beyond Chapter 11 AFLC, Maintenance, Mishaps and Recoveries Chapter 12 Beale Operations Chapter 13 OL-8 Operations During the Vietnam War Chapter 14 Det 1 Operations Post the Vietnam War Chapter 15 Det 4 The Early Years Chapter 16 Det 4 at Pace Chapter 17 The Barents Chapter 18 NASA Chapter 19 Shutdown Chapter 20 Legacy Appendix 1 Black Shield Missions Appendix 2 Black Shield Elint Log Appendix 3 Def Locations Appendix 4 Det 1 Deployments Appendix 5 Det 4 Deployments Appendix 6 Blackbird Disposition Appendix 7 SR-71 Commanders and Awards Appendix 8 Air Force Logistics Command SR-71 Flight Crew History Appendix 9 Chronology Appendix 10 Losses Appendix 11 Records Acronyms and Abbreviations Bibliography Index

Promotional Information

The SR-71 Blackbird is an iconic aircraft that has come to symbolize America's technological superiority during the Cold War. Using recently declassified information, globally renowned expert Paul Crickmore updates his definitive account of the aircraft.

About the Author

Paul F. Crickmore is the author of the much-acclaimed Lockheed Blackbird: Beyond the Secret Missions. He was commissioned to write his first book for Osprey 35 years ago and that since then he has written 20 books, including 12 for Osprey. He is also an honorary member of several A-12 and SR-71 veterans’ associations.