Obtained  ll::ouah  the  AUG    1  0     1987  /-^"  L&    '      — '  '-^ 
FREEDOM  OF  INFORMATION  ACT  by  tbe  S&(j-~ 
Arms  Raco  and  Nuclear  Weapons  Research  Project 
Institute  for  rdi-y  Studios 
Washington.  D.C.  ^  ,      y„  ..   <*  ! 
CHRONOLOGY 
9TH  STRATEGIC  RECONNAISSANCE  WING 
DATE  EVENT 
January 
4  Additional  funding  became  available  to  support  U-2 
training  requirements  at  Beale  AFB. 
7-11  Aircraft  swapout  accomplished  at  Det  2. 
2-9  Senator  Howard  W.  Cannon  of  Nevada  visited  the  9th 
and  received  an  orientation  flight  aboard  an  SR-71 . 
9  .  The  9SRW  was  involved  in  a  Short  Sprint  Exercise 
which  included  an  Operational  Readiness  Inspec- 
tion. 
31  A  U-2C  aircraft  belonging  to  the  9th  crash 
landed  approximately  35  miles  Northwest  of 
Beale  AFB.  The  pilot  suffered  only  minor  in- 
juries. 
February 
"1-29  Wing  personnel  were  able  to  reduce  the  Feb  80 
gasoline  consumption  as  compared  to  Feb  79  by 
six  percent  on  a  gallon  per  day  basis.  This 
exceeded  the  reduction  rate  prescribed  by  Presi- 
dent Carter's  energy  conservation  program. 
6_8  The  SAC  Inspector  General  conducted  a  Management 
Effectiveness  Inspection  at  Det  2,  9SRW.  The 
results  were  satisfactory. 
7-8  A  survey  conducted  by  the  three  wing  maintenance 
.v         squadrons  revealed  the  reasons  for  not  reenlist- 
ing  in  the  Air  Force  given  by  1st  term  airmen 
who  were  separating  in  alarming  numbers. 
March 
An  airman  from  90MS,  TOY  to  Det  2,  Osan  AB,  Korea 
was  killed  when  hit  by  a  POV  while  walking  on  a 
roadside  near  the  base.  Three  other  people,  two 
assigned  to  the  9th  and  TDY  to  Det  2  were  in- 
jured in  this  accident.
3-7  Hq  SAC  MSET  visited  the  9SRW  Maintenance  complex. 
All  squadrons  and  the  wing  itself  were  rated 
satisfactory. 
7  A  9SRW  U-2R  flew  the  primary  Gallant  Eagle  80 
reconnaissance  mission  over  the  Fort  Irwin, 
California  area. 
10-13  Mr.  Frank  Fishburne,  Deputy  Comptroller  of  the 
Air  Force,  visited  the  9th  and  received  an  ori- 
entation flight  aboard  an  SR-71. 
11  An  SR-71  assigned  to  the   wing  flew  a  reconnais- 
sance mission  in  support  of  the  Readiness  Com- 
mand Gallant  Eagle  80  exercise. 
12  The  9SRW  was  tasked  by  higher  headquarters  to 
increase  operations  at  Det  4. 
15  Col  She! ton  received  word  of  increased  opera- 
tions at  Det  1 . 
April 
2  Hq  USAF  requested  that  Hq  AFLC  take  action  to 
store  3  U-2C  aircraft  at  Palmdale,  CA.  No  word 
of  funding  for  the  remaining  9SRW  U-2C  had  been 
received  by  the  end  of  the  quarter. 
9  Personnel,  equipment  and  an  SR-71  aircraft  were 
deployed  in  support  of  the  first  Giant  Reach 
operation  of  1980.  Mission  results  were  good. 
15  The  Air  Force  officially  announced  its  intentions 
to  put  a  new  reconnaissance  aircraft,  the  TR-1 
into  the  active  inventory. 
17  Col  Shelton  reported  the  9SRW  sortie  capability 
in  support  of  increased  Giant  Scale  night  flying 
to  Headquarters  SAC. 
21  The  9SRW  participated  in  a  base  wide  Short  Sprint 
exercise.  The  9th  perfromed  satisfactorily  over- 
all, but  individual  areas  reported  some  problems. 
24  A  U-2R  returning  from  an  aborted  mission  at  an 
overseas  location,  crash  landed.  The  pilot 
received  only  minor  injuries,  but  the  aircraft 
v/as  seriously  damaged.
May 
2  Mr.  Clarence  L.  "Kelly"  Johnson,  designer  of  both 
the  SR-71  and  U-2  aircraft  visited  Beale  AFB  and 
participated  in  a  9SRW  dining  out  held  that  day. 
18  An  SR-71  from  Beale  AFB  was  caught  at  Fair- 
child  AFB,  Washington,  when  Mount  St.  Helens 
erupted.  The  aircraft  was  protected  from  the 
ash  fallout  and  was  able  to  return  to  Beale 
on  23  May. 
21  The  first  of  two  SR-71  sorties  around  the  Mount 
St.  Helens  area  was  flown  to  aid  the  U.S.  For- 
est Service  in  dammage  assesment.  The  second 
mission  was  flown  on  29  May. 
31  The  9SRW  along  with  the  100AREFW  hosted  the  1980 
Beale  AFB  Open  House.  Wing  participation  in- 
cluded SR-71,  U-2  and  T-38  static  displays  in 
addition  to  flyovers  by  these  same  aircraft 
types . 
31  By  this  date,  the  number  of  combat  ready  U-2R 
crews  reached  30,  matching  the  number  author- 
ized for  the  first  time  in  over  a  year. 
31  An  SR-71  aircraft  assigned  to  the  9SRW  ingested 
some  hardware  that  resulted  in  $50,000  worth  of 
engine  damage  following  seven  F0D  free  months. 
31  The  9SRW  maintenance  complex  was  rated  marginal 
in  all  areas  of  the  wing  MSEP  program  for  the 
month  of  May  1980.  Detected  Safety  Violations 
were  the  primary  cause  for  this  low  rating. 
June 
2-12  The  1CEVG  from  Barksdale  AFB,  Louisiana,  visited 
•  s         the  9SRM  for  a  no-notice   inspection  of  the  wing 
Stan/Eva!  Program  and  to  evaluate  wing  aircrew 
members . 
4  Maj  David  M.  Peters  of   the  1SRS  was  notified  that 
he  was  the  1979  Koren  Kolligian  Jr.  Trophy  winner 
awarded  for  his  save  of  an  SR-77  aircraft. 
15  Gen  Richard  H.  Ellis,  CINCSAC,  visited  Det  1  on 
this  date.  While  there,  he  was  briefed  on  the 
SACMET  study  that  indicated  an  additional  28 
authorizations  were  required  at  that  location.
20-29  The  second  annual   Global   Shield  Exercise  commenced 
at  1659  hours   local   putting  the  9SRW  in  an  in- 
creased state  of  combat  readiness. 
July 
3  Wing  aircraft  flew  a  Giant  Clipper  sortie. 
15  Col  David  G.  Young  assumed  command  of  the  9SRW 
from  Col  Franklin  D.  Shelton,  who  was  reassigned 
to  Headquarters  SAC.  Col  Thomas  S.  Pugh,  form- 
erly the  Deputy  Commander  for  Operations  commenced 
duties  as  Vice-Commander. 
22  The  second  July  Giant  Clipper  sortied  was  com- 
pleted. 
August 
10  The  citizens  of  Pen  Valley,  California  held  the 
first  annual  Beale  AFB  Appreciation  Day.  A 
large  crowd,  consisting  of  people  from  both 
Penn  Valley  and  Beale  attended. 
12  Lt  Gen  James  P.  Mull  ins  headed  a  15AF  Staff 
Assistance  visit  to  Beale  AFB  on  this  date. 
While  here,  the  General  participated  in  the 
POW  cell  dedication,  a  part  of  the  Beale  AFB 
Heritage  Program. 
^4  For  the  third  consecutive  quarter,  personnel 
assigned  to  the  9SRW  participated  in  a  Short 
Sprint  exercise.  Improved  performance  in 
most  areas  was  reported. 
26  Lt  Col  Phillip  L.  Bostur  assumed  the  position 
of  Deputy  Commander  for  Intelligence,  replacing 
Col  Rue!  K.  Branham,  who  was  reassigned. 
September  » 
1  The  9th 's  lone  operating  location  was  redesig- 
nated as  a  detachment  on  this  date. 
5  Col  Lonnie  L.  Liss  arrived  on  station  and  as- 
sumed the  duties  of  Deputy  Commander  for  Op- 
erations. Colonel  Pugh  had  been  performing 
these  duties  in  addition  to  the  responsibili- 
ties of  the  wing  vice-commander  since  15 
July.
22-26 
October 
November 
December 
1-8 
SR-71  aircraft  and  associated  personnel  de- 
ployed in  support  of  a  Giant  Reach  Opera- 
tion which  lasted  until  the  end  of  October. 
Botfo  the  SR-71  and  U-2  aircraft,  as  well  as  many 
wing  personnel  deployed  and  participated  in  the 
SAC  wide  Busy  Prairie  exercise. 
Fiscal  Year  1980  closed  out  on  this  date.  Once 
again  the  wing  managed  to  balance  its  budget 
and  end  the  financial  year  with  relative  ease. 
A  U-2R  aircraft  crashed  while  on  an  operational 
mission  at  Det  2.  The  pilot  received  minor  in- 
juries but  the  aircraft  was  totally  destroyed. 
Lt  Gen  James  P.  Mullins,  15AF/CC,  officiated 
over  the  dedication  of  U-2C  #714  in  Beale's  new 
Heritage  Park. 
Wing  officials  published  a  European  Bed-down 
plan. 
Over  20,000  visitors  crowded  the  flightline  area 
to  view  various  displays  and  the  USAF  Thunder- 
birds  during  Beale's  Open  House/Community  Appre- 
ciation Day. 
A  change  in  U-2  C-Ra tings  was  reported. 
Wing  personnel  participated  in  a  Short  Sprint 
exercise.  Several  problems  were  noted  in  the 
exercise  report. 
U-2R  #338  became  the  first  such  aircraft  to  fly 
over  10,000  hours  on  this  date,  while  assigned  to 
the  aircraft  inventory  at  Det  2. 
The  SAC  Inspector  General  visited  the  9th  and  con- 
ducted Operations!  Readiness  and  Management  Ef- 
fectiveness Inspections.  Results  were  good. 
Another  Giant  Reach  deployment  commanced  and  con- 
tinued through  the  end  of  the  year  into  1981.