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.