5/67: First flight. 1967: TOS USAF and assigned to the 9th Strategic Reconnaissance Wing, Beale AFB, CA. 21 Mar 68: Performed first operational sortie by an SR-71A when Ed Payne and Jerry O'Malley flew her over Vietnam. Over its career it flew more sorties (942) than any other SR-71, including 257 operational missions from Beale AFB, Palmdale, Kadena AB, Okinawa, and RAF Mildenhall. 27 Mar 90: Flew to the Air Force Museum.

5/67: First flight. 1967: TOS USAF and assigned to the 9th Strategic Reconnaissance Wing, Beale AFB, CA. 21 Mar 68: Performed first operational sortie by an SR-71A when Ed Payne and Jerry O'Malley flew her over Vietnam. Over its career it flew more sorties (942) than any other SR-71, including 257 operational missions from Beale AFB, Palmdale, Kadena AB, Okinawa, and RAF Mildenhall. 27 Mar 90: Flew to the Air Force Museum.

This SR-71A is now on display at the USAF Museum.

This Blackbird made the first operational SR-71 sortie in March, 1968 and during its career accumulated 2,981 flying hours and flew 942 total sorties, more than any other SR-71. These included 257 operational missions; from Beale Air Force Base, CA, Palmdale, CA, Kadena Air Base, Okinawa and RAF Mildenhall, England. The aircraft was flown to the National Museum of the USAF in March 1990 for preservation.