From 1968 through to 1990 the 9th Strategic Reconnaissance Squadron deployed a detachment of SR-71s to Kadena Air Base, on the Japanese island of Okinawa. During those 22 years, the Blackbirds and their crews of "Detachment 1" flew missions to Vietnam, Laos, Cambodia, Thailand, North Korea, the USSR and China. Without one single aircraft lost to enemy fire, the Blackbirds provided worldwide critical reconnaissance assessments to field commanders and the Pentagon. On one such mission during the Cold War, in December 1978, the SR-71A with serial number 61-7967 had engine problems during its return from a mission and had to make a landing at Osan Air Base in South Korea. Osan was home to the 9th SRW’s Detachment 2 which operated the U-2 Dragon Lady. Members of the local detachment’s crews used the maintenance time to redo the SR-71’s paint scheme, adding a zero behind the number 1 on its tail, adding the U-2 crews black cat emblem on the left stabilizer and even adding a price tag noting that the Blackbird was for sale for a mere 69 cents. The Lockheed technicians and the SR-71’s crew were reported to have been not all too happy with the humor the Dragon Lady crews displayed. ,From 1968 through to 1990 the 9th Strategic Reconnaissance Squadron deployed a detachment of SR-71s to Kadena Air Base, on the Japanese island of Okinawa. During those 22 years, the Blackbirds and their crews of "Detachment 1" flew missions to Vietnam, Laos, Cambodia, Thailand, North Korea, the USSR and China. Without one single aircraft lost to enemy fire, the Blackbirds provided worldwide critical reconnaissance assessments to field commanders and the Pentagon. On one such mission during the Cold War, in December 1978, the SR-71A with serial number 61-7967 had engine problems during its return from a mission and had to make a landing at Osan Air Base in South Korea. Osan was home to the 9th SRW’s Detachment 2 which operated the U-2 Dragon Lady. Members of the local detachment’s crews used the maintenance time to redo the SR-71’s paint scheme, adding a zero behind the number 1 on its tail, adding the U-2 crews black cat emblem on the left stabilizer and even adding a price tag noting that the Blackbird was for sale for a mere 69 cents. The Lockheed technicians and the SR-71’s crew were reported to have been not all too happy with the humor the Dragon Lady crews displayed.
Scale:
1:200
Dimensions: see
this page
Material: mainly metal
Brand: Herpa Wings
Nr: 574310
In stock:
future release, release date unknown
Added to website: 2026-09-09
Brochure / announcement:
November - December 2026
