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I51 NATIONAL RECONNAISSANCE OFFICE

WAMINGTON. D.C.

THE NRO STAFF 23 March 1970

MEMORANDUM FOR DIRECTOR,NATIONAL RECONNAISSANCE OFFICE

SUBJECT: SR-71 Accident History

In response to a query from the House Armed Service

Committee, I accompanied Mr. Frank Fishburne (AFAHF) and

Lt Col Tom Jones (AFSDCP), on 21 March 1970 to Congressman

George H. Mabon's office to handcarry and discuss the SR-71

accident history. Query and resultant discussion was the

result of an article which appeared on 20 March in the

Washington Post. Article was based on SAFOI prepared release in response to questions by Ted Sell, Los Angeles

Times.

—TO -SECRET wtai:::44., P

We were greeted by Mr. George Preston. He reviewed

the attached documents and indicated that he was satisfied

that accidents did not have any established pattern or

trend.

Mr. Preston was advised that the release prepared by

SAFOI included reports on two accidents that are not reflected in the Air Force SR-71 inventory since these

two aircraft were YF-12/SR-71 prototypes that were in

actuality "black aircraft". He stated that he understood.

The two YF -12/0R-71 prototypes/test bed referred to

in attachment 3 were actually A-12's, No reference or

discussion was made to CIA, OXCARTS, A-12's or the NRO.

4 Attachments

Answer to Query

Wash Post Article

Mrk Cy SRp.71 Type A/C

Accident Summary

AF SR71 A/C Program

CC: OSA Security

-

Director of Operations.

Program D

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* HI Ted SA pall was a light betessaerelsped la mewl by Wing essapased of two sprallissisma. SA Alr Taro sill.

tam awls II... a sod Malls Tbsa stinas sansamerd sate la IN nos. at Deals AirTaralasr.ltary man and Central late*

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Thar gashed In Callknia. that .pp afters • addst bow !aria es Mak I. MOS. Is Aldose what caused tharrmosrM11 rat** Is tsar .

ON. In !reach.' as la Now bees last an cambia The Air Tarn "(Used teen-alas easOksied Imes. dab has loses eke.

sad am I. the Paelltmilas awalties. bray to or he way OM The MI-71 eon lly ablangte-r: In the wadi They loyal

befaraa as what OS Mr Parts Exhumes M the WWank ea- II •llifatil. Iftwartr. Awe la IRSIM pat MTh and at spedgliess marled Is stelsatball

a • • . , • imir ow WTI mak the Mh MO wail. It easrltslfros bases an Okinawa ma la

. t r a I • a I e Ileassallassea maples destiede MIMI naltend. Me Meek

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S2 CT: SR-71 Typo Aircraft Accidents

1. Roforenco our previous paper listing sovon each SZW71

aircraft accidents resulting in total losses and one

incident. The aircraft involved in tho incident is

reparable.

2. Thero wore a total of mine losses, seven SR-71's and

..14 to additional T1/M-71 typo aircraft losses. The two

additional losses were proto-typo aircraft. The proto-

: •

typo aircraft losses aro as follows. . .

.

Jan 67, Loith, Nevada area (pilot fatality)

:1 Jun 63, Pacific area, betvoen =nava/Manila

(pilot fatality)

2. !..:vs releases indicate a total of nine losses (seven

.71=, plus two TP/SZ-71 type aircraft) and do not include

t_o sn-71 that was involved in a ground incident.

aircraft involved in tho incident is reparable and was

not a total loss.

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3. 11.--o la to ottablIttol WA= 14214 mud to atm Utta

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P.471 lotzo).

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Silia CROWN

ACCESS REQUIRE:I

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We limp MID 21.11arch 1970 - jr

CIA MaY Have Been .

In Some Lost SR7 1 s

4. 44 :'11%

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;;°r•f.tiititfq.t1011117e?t:9'.i-• •

•

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By Howard Saber -

The Depertmest of Defense

ackadviedged Friday that the

Air /Owe hes led eine of fie

SR71 reconesiesence genes In

cradles in the la four years.

Four of the aircraft was

crewed to the Strategic Air

Catinnues kb Strategic

Recoosissance Meg. -

The ethers. the Pongee odd,

were "neserch mad

meat please?"

devil*

The Pentagon refined to apaid ea its "rum* and

development" etawnset.

Meisel Erne

MR.*/ Mike SAC. which

bas all of the operadonal SR71s

k kff Ids Win& said it bed loin

only Wee of them. A SAC

spokesmen expleimel Friday

that the intownetion office had

made a dotal sear and that

the amber it bed het actnelly

wu ker.

71w stem by the Pescara

about the "research and

deveispeaser dews belghtened

speadetioa that 'ass of the

SRNs are bong flews by the

Central latellipace Aiwa.

•

This was the case with the UR

yeadecessor of the SR71. The U2

also was sedated le SAC•

lowever, the U2 which was

downed over the Soviet Union

vu piloted by Fran'

Gay Powers, a CIA employs.

lbe SR71 is capable of snag

et ZOO miles an boor sad

climbleg to about INAS feet.

aldteds.

amber a beret

It is lowron to be crammed•

with highly sophisticated

electrode wiellidem.

The Air VIM has refused to

haw may SRNs k ham

h

sly

ave annum base per 

Nor

siltitd.

to dolt the area of Bade Alr

Force Bus, Celt. Is which

SR71 operations we conducted. •-•

The Ponagas said eight of the

nine losses occurred in the

United Steam The Math plane.

was reported to have some down

in June NU between Okinawa

sad limas. It was ductibed as

a "research and davalopmen"

plan.

SAC said all for of the plans

Scales.

 lost crashed in the Mind

Staten.

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