#Noel F. Widdifield

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50 years ago today.

On Sep. 1, 1974, Maj. James V. Sullivan and Maj. Noel Widdifield set a new world speed record from New York to London, as our friend Linda Sheffield Miller (Col Richard (Butch) Sheffield’s daughter, Col. Sheffield was an SR-71 Reconnaissance Systems Officer) on her Facebook Page Habubrats. It took less than two hours.

This mission might’ve been the ‘gateway plan’ to have SR-71 stationed in England. The United States was fortunate to be able to house two SR-71s at RAF Mildenhall years later. This was a huge help to have SR-71 in Europe [SR-71 Reconnaissance Operations at RAF Mildenhall was from April 1976 to 1990. Prior to Det 4 being established, UK permission was required for each sortie flown. According to the SR-71 Blackbirds website, the SR-71’s stay would be no longer than 20 days for each visit.

Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher announced that Det 4 would be a permanent SR-71 Detachment with two aircraft assigned. The UK remained in control of the more sensitive missions. The two aircraft Detachments ceased operations on Nov. 22, 1989. The last aircraft departed the UK on Jan. 18, 1990.

The US Government has given the United Kingdom an SR-71 #962 for public display at Duxford Imperial War Museum for its contribution to ending the Cold War.]. Blackbirds based at Mildenhall could fly around the Baltic Sea and take pictures of potential targets in the Soviet Union using their side-looking cameras [without crossing the Soviet border].

On September 1, 1974 Major James V. Sullivan, 37 (pilot) and Noel F. Widdifield, 33 (reconnaissance systems officer) flashed across the starting line (radar gates in New York) at approximately 80,000 feet and speed in excess of 2,000 miles per hour. Exactly 1 hour 54 minutes and 56.4 seconds later, they had set a new world speed record from New York to London England.

The average speed was 1,807 statute mph over the 3,461 statute mile course, slowing to refuel one time from a specially modified KC-135 refueling tanker. The aircraft was placed on static display at Farnborough Air Show for 1 week. It marked the first time the secret plane had been on public display outside of the United States. ”Kelly” Johnson, the aircraft designer, was on hand for the event. He remarked, “It (the SR-71) has exceeded all my expectations.”

Another historic speed record was set on the return trip to the United States. Captain Harold B. Adams, 31 (pilot), and Major William Machorek, 32 (reconnaissance systems operator), set a speed record from London to Los Angeles. They returned the Blackbird 5,447 statute miles in 3 hours 47 minutes and 39 seconds for an average speed of 1,435 miles per hour. The difference in the two speed records was due to refueling requirements and having to slow over major US cities.’

Even so a large number of people in Los Angeles reported broken windows due to the sonic boom. One of those people was actress, Zaza’s Gabor, who complained bitterly about her broken windows. To appease her Captain Adams and Major Machorek went to Zazas Home to apologize. They brought their wives with them. Zaza only allowed the SR-71 Crew to come into her home! The wives had to sit in the car. Very bad manners on the movie stars part.

The trip from New York to London 50 years ago became a beautiful friendship between allies, the United States and Great Britain .

We both worked hard to win the Cold War.

This article was originally in the aviationgeek club written by Linda Sheffield. published by Dario Leone

Artwork by Force Graham

@Habubrats71 via X

[aviationhistory]

The U. S. Air Force SR-71 Blackbird 61-17972, flown by Major James Sullivan (pilot) and Major Noel F, Widdifield (reconnaissance systems officer), crosses the Atlantic Ocean from New York City to London in a world record 1 h 54 min 56 seconds at an average speed of 1,806.96 mph (2,909.76 km/h).

[usafphantom2]

The pilot was Jim Sullivan age 37 and the RSO was Noel Widdifield age 33

The trip between New York and London took only one hour and 55 minutes to cover 3,479.41 miles. To achieve the new record, the SR-71 flew more than three times the speed of sound.

On Sept. 13, 1974, the SR-71 departed RAF Mildenhall for a record-setting flight to Los Angeles, California. The trip took three hours and forty-seven minutes and covered 5,446.86 miles. The pilot was Buck Adams in the second seat was reconnaissance systems officer, Bill MACHOREK they set a speed record by going 5447 statute miles in three hours and 47 minutes and 39 seconds. They reached their destination they threw out quite a few sonic booms personally this is music to my ears, but to Zaza Gabor, a movie star at that time was an annoyance as the windows in her home were shattered. Bill and Buck did arrive at Zaza‘s home to apologize. They brought their wives, but Zaza was known for only loving men, and not caring about women and insisted that the wives had to stay in the car!

Within five years, both the SR-71 and the U-2 operated from RAF Mildenhall.

June 30, 1978, the headquarters of the 306th SW relocated from Ramstein Air Base, Germany, to RAF Mildenhall to support the SAC rotational forces at RAF Mildenhall and manage the ETTF.

April 1, 1978, the SR-71 returned to RAF Mildenhall, in order to operate from the base. This was the result of the 9th Strategic Reconnaissance Wing, Detachment 4, which moved to RAF Mildenhall to oversee temporary duty deployments of U-2 and SR-71 aircraft. While this was a return appearance for the SR 71, it was the first appearance for the U-2. However, U-2 operations moved to RAF Alconbury in February 1983.

April 5, 1982, almost a year before the U-2s left RAF Mildenhall, the British Government permitted two SR-71s to be permanently based at RAF Mildenhall. Until the departure of the SR-71 on Jan. 18, 1990, it came to symbolize RAF Mildenhall in the public's eye.

I wish to extend America’s gratitude to Great Britain for allowing and welcoming the SR 71s and the Habu family.

Americans made quite a few good friends in Great Britain one that comes to mind is SR 71 author Paul Crickmore.

~Linda Sheffield

Source Mildenhall website

Description of the photograph

Once both the J58 engines had completed trim checks on the runway, wheel chocks were removed and a green light from the control tower indicated that the ‘Habu’ was cleared for take-off. Here SR-71 979, callsign ‘Oil 54’, awaits an early-morning departure from RAF Mildenhall in October 1984. Paul F. Crickmore

@Habubrats71 via X

[usafphantom2]

On November 7, 1979, Pilot Colonel Jim Sullivan, and in the backseat was Col Richard Uppstorm, (talking about a job with benefits! ) When they flew in the only remaining YF-12 to its permanent home at the Museum of the Air Force.

Richard was the Director of the Museum of the Air Force located outside of Wright Patterson, Air Force Base. Jim Sullivan had never flown a YF- 12 before but he had experience in the SR -71. On September 1, 1974, Major James V. Sullivan, USAF, Pilot and Major Noel F. Widdifield, USAF, Reconnaissance Systems Officer, set a Fédération Aéronautique Internationale (FAI) World Record for Speed Over A Known Course when they flew Lockheed SR-71A-LO 61-7972 from New York to London in 1 hour, 54 minutes, and 56.4 seconds. They averaged 2,908.026 kilometers per hour (1,806.964 mph). Their 1,806-mph flight still holds the transatlantic speed record between the two cities. Jim also flew the A-12.

The backseat in the YF-12 was for a flight control officer to help launch air-to-air missiles that used to be carried. Later in the SR 71 the backseat was filled with an RSO. I think Uppstorm was there for the ride of his life. If anybody has any more information on how the Director of the Museum got this flight, let me know.

Linda Sheffield

@Habubrats71 via Twitter

[usafphantom2]

49 years ago today.

On Sep. 1, 1974, Maj. James V. Sullivan and Maj. Noel Widdifield set a new world speed record from New York to London, as our friend Linda Sheffield Miller (Col Richard (Butch) Sheffield’s daughter, Col. Sheffield was an SR-71 Reconnaissance Systems Officer) on her Facebook Page Habubrats. It took less than two hours.

This mission might’ve been the ‘gateway plan’ to have SR-71 stationed in England. The United States was fortunate to be able to house two SR-71s at RAF Mildenhall years later. This was a huge help to have SR-71 in Europe [SR-71 Reconnaissance Operations at RAF Mildenhall was from April 1976 to 1990. Prior to Det 4 being established, UK permission was required for each sortie flown. According to the SR-71 Blackbirds website, the SR-71’s stay would be no longer than 20 days for each visit.

Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher announced that Det 4 would be a permanent SR-71 Detachment with two aircraft assigned. The UK remained in control of the more sensitive missions. The two aircraft Detachments ceased operations on Nov. 22, 1989. The last aircraft departed the UK on Jan. 18, 1990.

The US Government has given the United Kingdom an SR-71 #962 for public display at Duxford Imperial War Museum for its contribution to ending the Cold War.]. Blackbirds based at Mildenhall could fly around the Baltic Sea and take pictures of potential targets in the Soviet Union using their side-looking cameras [without crossing the Soviet border].

On September 1, 1974 Major James V. Sullivan, 37 (pilot) and Noel F. Widdifield, 33 (reconnaissance systems officer) flashed across the starting line (radar gates in New York) at approximately 80,000 feet and speed in excess of 2,000 miles per hour. Exactly 1 hour 54 minutes and 56.4 seconds later, they had set a new world speed record from New York to London England. The average speed was 1,807 statute mph over the 3,461 statute mile course, slowing to refuel one time from a specially modified KC-135 refueling tanker. The aircraft was placed on static display at Farnborough Air Show for 1 week. It marked the first time the secret plane had been on public display outside of the United States. ”Kelly” Johnson, the aircraft designer, was on hand for the event. He remarked, “It (the SR-71) has exceeded all my expectations.”

Another historic speed record was set on the return trip to the United States. Captain Harold B. Adams, 31 (pilot), and Major William Machorek, 32 (reconnaissance systems operator), set a speed record from London to Los Angeles. They returned the Blackbird 5,447 statute miles in 3 hours 47 minutes and 39 seconds for an average speed of 1,435 miles per hour. The difference in the two speed records was due to refueling requirements and having to slow over major US cities.’

Even so a large number of people in Los Angeles reported broken windows due to the sonic boom. One of those people was actress, Zaza’s Gabor, who complained bitterly about her broken windows. To appease her Captain Adams and Major Machorek went to Zazas Home to apologize. They brought their wives with them. Zaza only allowed the SR-71 Crew to come into her home!

The trip from New York to London 49 years ago became a beautiful friendship between allies, the United States and Great Britain .We both worked hard to win the Cold War. This article was originally in the aviationgeek club written by Linda Sheffield. published by Dario Leone

Artwork by Force Graham

@Habubrats71 via Twitter

[usafphantom2]

SR71_v_c_o_AKP (orig. M.O.D. (P.E.) R.A.F. Farnborough photo, neg. no. B2460-15, 2-9-74) by Mike Acs Via Flickr: “On September 1, 1974 Major James V. Sullivan, 37 (pilot) and Major Noel F. Widdifield, 33 (Reconnaissance Systems Officer), flashed across the starting line (radar gates in New York) at approximately 80,000 feet and speed in excess of 2,000 miles per hour. Exactly 1 hour 54 minutes and 56.4 seconds later, they had set a new world speed record from New York to London, England. The average speed was 1,807 statute mph over the 3,461 statute mile course, slowing to refuel one time from a specially modified KC-135 refueling tanker. The aircraft was placed on static display at the Farnborough Air Show for one week. It marked the first time the secret plane had been on public display outside of the United States. Clarence L. "Kelly" Johnson, the aircraft’s designer, was on hand for the event. He remarked, "It (the SR-71) has exceeded all my expectations." The above is much better than anything I could’ve come up with. At: sr71.com/srspee~1.htm See also: sr71.com/image2~1.htm Both above credit: "SR-71 Blackbirds" website New York to London: - 1 hour - 54 minutes - 56.4 seconds Excellent, with additional wonderful photos: www.key.aero/article/mach-3-men One of those wonderful photos. From a different viewpoint, and a moment before my posted photo. Fantastic: fullfatthings-keyaero.b-cdn.net/sites/keyaero/files/impor... Credit: "KEY.AERO" website Mind boggling. A striking photograph of probably the most brutally stunning, drop-dead gorgeous operational aircraft - EVER. Doesn’t that look like a Harrier - on the tarmac? - in the background to the right? Maybe the other aircraft that are also visible? So, if the above is correct, then the aircraft basically had a ‘running start’. Then was the ‘finish line’ analogous, thus ‘running’ through such radar gates IVO Farnborough? London Heathrow? The aircraft resides at the Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum’s Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center.