61-7974
No display location
Dots mark every surviving airframe
Record
Career
- 'Ichi Ban' (Number One) tail art with habu snake
- One of the first three SR-71s deployed to Kadena in 1968 and flew the most operational sorties of that first rotation
- First SR-71 loss in nearly 17 years (previous loss July 1972)
How it was lost
Lost on 21 April 1989 over the South China Sea near the Philippines after an engine exploded at Mach 3 out of Kadena and shrapnel severed hydraulic lines, leaving no flight controls. Pilot Dan E. House and RSO Blair L. Bozek ejected and were picked up by local fishermen; it was the last Blackbird ever lost.
In the chronology
| 8 Mar 1968 | First SR-71s deploy to Kadena (OL-8) SENIOR CROWN SR-71A 61-7978 arrived at Kadena AB, Okinawa, followed by 61-7976 on 10 March and 61-7974 on 13 March, forming Operating Location 8 to take over the reconnaissance role of the CIA's A-12s. All three were reported operational by 15 March 1968. |
| 21 Apr 1989 | Last SR-71 loss: 61-7974 off the Philippines SENIOR CROWN 61-7974, the 'Ichi Ban' Habu, was lost off Luzon in the Philippines after an engine failure on a sortie from Kadena. Pilot Dan House and RSO Blair Bozek ejected and were rescued; it was the twelfth and last SR-71 lost, and none was ever lost to hostile action. |
Where the record disagrees
Which engine failed is disputed: sr-71.org (quoting House) and thesr71blackbird.com say the left engine; habu.org says the right. Ranks also differ (Maj. House and Capt. Bozek per sr-71.org; Lt Cols per habu.org). Wikipedia says the recovered wreckage was buried at sea in the Mariana Trench on 24 December 1989; this was not confirmed by a primary or museum source and should not be repeated without one. First flight and hours not found.
Sources
- SR-71 Online (sr-71.org), via Internet Archive. Blackbird Losses (archived copy). Open · In the register
- Habu.org. 61-7974 (Blackbird Photo Archive). Archived copy · In the register
- Habu.org. 61-7974 (Blackbird Photo Archive). Archived copy · In the register
- The SR-71 Blackbird (thesr71blackbird.com). SR-71A Blackbird #17974 / #2025. Open · Archived · In the register
- SR-71 Online (sr-71.org), via Internet Archive. SR-71 Locations (archived copy, lists serial / Lockheed article number and fate). Open · In the register