‘Burial at sea seemed the best remaining option, but we needed Navy assistance,’ former SR-71 Blackbird RSO Colonel (Ret) Don Emmons. The SR-71, unofficially known as the “Blackbird,” is a long-range, advanced, strategic reconnaissance aircraft developed from the Lockheed A-12 and YF-12A aircraft. The first flight of an SR-71 took place on Dec. 22, 1964, and the first SR-71 to enter service was delivered to the 4200th (later 9th) Strategic Reconnaissance Wing at Beale Air Force Base (AFB), Calif., in January 1966. The US Air Force retired its fleet of SR-71s on Jan. 26, 1990.

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