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Rare! You are buying a new/unused U.S. Air Force subdued patch(measures 3\" tall by 3\" wide) fromthe 9th Strategic Reconnaissance Wing (9 SRW) \"Semper Paratus,\" that was located at Beale Air Force Base, California.
9th Strategic Reconnaissance Wing (9 SRW) - \"Semper Paratus\" (Latin for \"Always Ready\")
\"The SR-71 \"Blackbird\" quickly became an important information source for U.S. commanders engaged in the Vietnam War. Until the end of the war in 1975, the 9th SRW gathered photographic and electronic intelligence data on the Southeast Asian nations involved in the conflict. Despite the SR-71\'s speed and operating altitude, crews risked their lives daily to obtain the latest and best reconnaissance data. Rescuers used SR-71 photos of North Vietnam to plan the 1970 raid on the Son Tay POW camp to free American POW.
Following the end of American involvement in Vietnam, the 9th SRW turned to more peaceful accomplishments. The most spectacular of these were the SR-71 speed runs from New York to London and from London to Los Angeles. On 1 September 1974, Major James Sullivan and his RSO, Major Noel Widdefield, flew their SR-71 from New York to London in one hour, 55 minutes, 42 seconds, an average speed of 1,817mph (2,924km/h).
The wing\'s assault on speed records continued in 1976. On 27 July, Major Adolphus Bledsoe, pilot, and Major John Fuller, RSO, flew the SR-71 over the 1,000-kilometer closed-course at 2,092mph (3,367km/h), beating the Soviet MiG-25 \"Foxbat\'s\" record of 1,853mph (2,982km/h) by more than 200mph (320km/h). The next day, Captain Eldon Joersz, with Major George T. Morgan as RSO, broke the YF-12A\'s record of 2,070 for the 15â25 kilometer straight course by flying 2,194mph (3,531km/h). Also, on 28 July, Captain Robert Helt and his RSO, Major Larry Elliot, broke the YFâ12A\'s altitude record for horizontal flight flying at a sustained altitude of 85,068.997 feet (25,929m).
On 1 July 1976, the 99th Strategic Reconnaissance Squadron (99 SRS) rejoined the 9th Strategic Reconnaissance Wing as part of a realignment of SAC strategic reconnaissance units. The 99th SRS was reactivated at U-Tapao RTAFB in Thailand OL-UA in November 1972 and there till 1976 under the 100th Strategic Reconnaissance Wing (100 SRW), rejoined the 9 SRW again after they had inactivated at Beale AFB on 1 April 1971. Also, the 100 SRW became the 100th Air Refueling Wing (100 ARW). The 349th Strategic Reconnaissance Squadron who\'s pilots flew the U-2 and 350th Strategic Reconnaissance Squadron that flew C-130s(releasing) and CH-53(recovering) the flying AQM-34 Firebee drones in SEA became Air refueling Squadrons were activated under the 100 ARW. The consolidation smoothed the reconnaissance tasking and response process. The consolidation of the 9th and 100 SRWs provided SAC with the following composite organization:
- 1st Strategic Reconnaissance Squadron (SR-71 Blackbird)
- 99th Strategic Reconnaissance Squadron (Lockheed U-2R)
- 349th Air Refueling Squadron (KC-135 Stratotanker)
- 350th Air Refueling Squadron (KC-135 Stratotanker)
The U-2R, an improved version of the 1955 vintage U-2A, could spend more time \"on-station\" and cover longer distances without refueling than the SR-71. It was also less expensive to operate. The 9 SRW continued to evolve as the Air Force\'s first TR-1 U-2 variant arrived at Beale AFB on 1 August 1981 and the first production model was assigned six weeks later. Later, the Air Force would drop the TR-1 designation and this aircraft series would also be called U-2s.With the new aircraft\'s arrival, the Air Force activated the 4029th Strategic Reconnaissance Training Squadron (4029 SRTS) on 1 August 1981, to train all TR-1 and U-2 pilots. The TR-1s were transferred to the newly activated 17th Reconnaissance Wing (17 RW) in October 1982. A descendant of the U-2, the Lockheed-built TR-1 would gather tactical reconnaissance data at RAF Alconbury, United Kingdom for USAFE.In 1986, the Air Force changed the 4029 SRTS designation to the 5th Strategic Reconnaissance Training Squadron (5 SRTS), renewing the 5th Squadron\'s longtime association with the 9th Wing. As the importance of intelligence collection increased in the 1980s, the wing operated detachments (permanent units) and operating locations (temporary sites) around the world. The British government publicly announced, on 5 April 1982, the stationing of the SR-71 at Detachment 4, RAF Mildenhall, United Kingdom. The wing also established the U-2 at Operating Location OLYMPIC FLAME (OL-OF), in Turkey. becoming Det. 5.As world events dictate the need for accurate and timely reconnaissance data, the 9th Strategic Reconnaissance Wing has operated OL\'s and detachments around the globe, including South Korea, Panama, Okinawa, Cyprus, and Saudi Arabia. An Air Force Outstanding Unit Award (7th oak leaf cluster) for 1 July 1981 to 30 June 1982 confirmed the excellence with which the 9SRW performed its expanded mission.In July 1989, the wing flew several missions over Ethiopia, searching for an airplane carrying Congressman Mickey Leland. Later, in October 1989, at the request of the Federal Emergency Management Agency, the wing flew U-2 photo missions over the San Francisco and Oakland areas after the strong Loma Prieta earthquake.A unique chapter of the 9th\'s history ended on 1 January 1990 when the SR-71 retired. High maintainability and operating costs and the availability of similar intelligence from other sources convinced Air Force officials the aircraft was no longer vital to the national defense. But the Blackbird went out with gusto. On 28 March 1990 Major Don Watkins and his RSO, Major Bob Fowlkes, flew the last SR-71 flight from Beale AFB to the USAF Museum at Wright Patterson AFB, Ohio. Later 3 SR-71 were reactivated in the mid 90s as Det. 2 at Edwards AFB, Ca. under the 9th Operation Group (OG) and canceled again in 1999.In the last month of operations from Beale AFB, the SR-71 set the following speed records:
- West Coast to East Coast of USA
(National Record-Speed Over a Recognized Course): Coast to Coast Distance: 2,404.05 statute miles, Time: 1 hr 07 min 53.69 secs, Average Speed: 2,124.51 mph
- Los Angeles to Washington D.C.
(World Record): Distance: 2,299.67 statute miles, Time: 1 hr 04 min 19.89 secs, Average Speed: 2,144.83mph (3,451.77km/h)
(World Record): Distance: 311.44 statute miles, Time: 8 mins 31.97 secs, Average Speed: 2,189.94mph (3,524.37km/h)
- Kansas City to Washington D.C.
(World Record): Distance: 942.08 statute miles, Time: 25 mins 58.53 secs, Average Speed: 2,176.08mph (3,502.06km/h)The above records were confirmed on 15 March 1990 after the initial release on 6 March 1990, in the same corresponding order of 212.62mph, 2153.24mph, 2205.48mph and 2242.48mph.\"
A rare vintage patch to havefor your 9th Strategic Reconnaissance Wing \"Semper Paratus,\" SR-71 \"Blackbird,\" U-2 \"Dragon Lady.\" strategic reconnaissance or U.S. Air Forcepatch collection!
Lucky buyer agrees to pay upon purchase and will receive FREEshipping within the U.S. only.
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