File A121-R-60-6941M-21Article 135

60-6941

M-21 · Article 135
Lost30 Jul 1966

No display location
Dots mark every surviving airframe

No photo on fileNo openly licensed photograph of this airframe is in the archive yet. If you took one or know of one, it can be added with your permission.

Record

60-6941
135
M-21
152.7
Not confirmed
Lost
Destroyed

Career

  • The accident led Kelly Johnson to end M-21 launches; the D-21 programme moved to B-52H launches (SENIOR BOWL)
  • Bill Park flew all M-21 flights (CIA)
  • 95 flights

How it was lost

Destroyed 30 July 1966 off the California coast on the fourth D-21 launch, when the drone struck the mothership after separation at about Mach 3.2 and the M-21 broke up. Lockheed pilot Bill Park and launch control officer Ray Torick ejected over the sea; Park was rescued but Torick drowned.

In the chronology

30 Jul 1966M-21 destroyed in D-21 launch collision TAGBOARD
On the fourth launch, off the California coast, the D-21 struck M-21 Article 135 (60-6941) on separation and the mothership broke up. Pilot Bill Park and launch control officer Ray Torick ejected into the Pacific; Park survived but Torick drowned, and Kelly Johnson ended launches from the M-21.

Where the record disagrees

CIA spells the LCO 'Ray Torick'; Wikipedia uses 'Torrick'. Cause wording: Wikipedia says a D-21 engine unstart or failure to start led the drone to strike the M-21's tail; CIA says simply 'a launch mishap'.

Sources

  1. Central Intelligence Agency, Center for the Study of Intelligence. Archangel: CIA's Supersonic A-12 Reconnaissance Aircraft (David Robarge, 2nd ed.; includes 'Inventory of A-12s' table, p. 50). Open · Archived · In the register
  2. Wikipedia. Lockheed A-12 (aircraft table and accidents list). Open · Archived · In the register
  3. Wikipedia. Lockheed D-21 (aircraft on display list). Open · Archived · In the register