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sean-gaffney · 9 days

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What's Left of the Looney Tunes?

So you’re a Looney Tunes fan, and you’re waiting with baited breath (Greetings, Bait!) for the cartoon list for the next Collector’s Choice Blu-Ray. And as you wait to see if they add that 1953 Friz Freleng or 1958 Robert McKimson cartoon, you must be thinking: Surely they’ve released every single cartoon at SOME point since the 1980s, right? Well, except for the really racist ones. Right?

Nah. There’s 129 Looney Tunes and Merrie Melodies that have never been officially released, restored or unrestored, on home video at all. And, to be honest, most of them are unlikely to be on the Collector’s Choice sets. Let’s take a look at the last bastions against having all 1000 LT/MM cartoons available.

Bosko. Now, there are a few Bosko cartoons available. There’s 38 Bosko cartoons from 1930-1933, not counting the weird ones like the Talk-ink Kid pilot or whatever Bosko and Honey was. Of those, 11 have been released officially. This leaves 27 in limbo. This is a shame, there are some really good Bosko cartoons.

Buddy. Even worse, to be honest. 23 Buddy cartoons were made, 5 have had some official release. That leaves 18. Now, there’s a reason for that. They’re awful. (Also, two of those 18, Buddy of the Apes and Buddy in Africa, also fall under one of the later categories we’ll get to.)

Seven B&W Merrie Melodies. Two of these, Hittin’ the Trail for Hallelujah Land and Goin’ to Heaven on a Mule, are basically banned for content. Those Were Wonderful Days, Why Do I Dream Those Dreams, The Girl at the Ironing Board, The Miller’s Daughter, and Rhythm in the Bow, are simply not available, possibly as they’re dull. However, they have been restored. (As has HtTfHL.)

Seven B&W Looney Tunes. Mostly the same as above. The Daffy Duckaroo and Tokio Jokio are banned for content, though we may see Duckaroo someday (Native American caricatures have traditionally been less banned than Black and Asian caricatures). Saps in Chaps also has some Native American gags, I think. As for The Fire Alarm, Joe Glow the Firefly, Gopher Goofy and Nutty News, they’ve been restored but never released.

The rest of the “Censored 11”, of which Hittin’ the Trail for Hallelujah Land was the first. As most cartoon fans know, this is not a catch all of all racist WB cartoons, it’s just the ones that were owned by Associated Artists productions. So yeah, Sunday Go to Meetin’ Time, Clean Pastures, Uncle Tom’s Bungalow, Jungle Jitters, The Isle of Pingo Pongo, All This and Rabbit Stew (a Bugs Bunny cartoon), Coal Black and de Sebben Dwarfs, Tin Pan Alley Cats, Angel Puss and Goldilocks and the Jivin’ Bears. They’ve all been restored.

The dog cartoons. There are a bunch of one-shots that have no regular characters but all involve dogs, and (likely as they don’t have a “star” and aren’t really great) they’ve never come out. Pappy’s Puppy, Mixed Master, A Waggily Tale, Dog Tales. All but Pappy’s Puppy are restored.

Miscellaneous “banned for content” cartoons. Which is Witch (a Bugs Bunny cartoon), Tom Tom Tomcat (a Tweety and Sylvester cartoon), and two REALLY late cartoons, Hocus Pocus Pow Wow and Injun Trouble. None of these have been restored.

Random missing 50s stuff. A Bone for a Bone (Goofy Gophers), Sock a Doodle Doo (Foghorn Leghorn), Easy Peckin’s, Quack Shot (Daffy Duck and Elmer Fudd), Trick or Tweet (Tweety).

60s stuff that’s still actually Warner Brothers. There’s about 10 or 12 early 60s cartoons that just aren’t very good, and that’s why they’re not out. They’ve all been restored except Unnatural History and What’s My Lion, which are two of the worst LT/MM shorts that ever came out – not for content, they’re simply pathetically unfunny.

All the post-64 stuff. There’s a pile, I won’t break them down one by one. Mostly Daffy/Speedy cartoons, the nadir of both characters. A few of the Roadrunner cartoons that weren’t stuffed onto that one DVD a while back. They’re here as no one wants to watch them.

The post-67 stuff, aka the nightmare years. Cool Cat, Merlin the Magic Mouse, Bunny and Claude… those. (Though actually, both Bunny and Claude shorts HAVE been released.) They’re here for the same reason – unpopularity.

Note this doesn’t even get into the cartoons which were fine to release in the 1980s on VHS but *aren’t* fine to release now (all the Merrie Melodies that weren’t banned but have racial stereotypes, such as the Inki cartoons, a huge number of cowboy and Indian cartoons, and Bugs Bunny’s unfortunate wartime cartoon). Or all the stuff that’s restored and out on Max, but has never hit a DVD or Blu-Ray (half of the 30s Merrie Melodies). Or the stuff that’s unrestored, not on Max and has never hit a DVD or Blu-Ray (the other half of the 1930s Merrie Melodies). Or Holiday for Drumsticks, what’s up with that?

In any case, when they announce the cartoons for the 4th set in a week or so, you can look at this list and see if it has any of those.

#warner brothers cartoons #looney tunes #merrie melodies

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mostlysignssomeportents · 9 months

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Diner Journalism

Tom the Dancing Bug – Chagrin Falls: "Diner Journalism"

TOM the DanciNg Bug Chagrin Falls "DINER JOURNALISM" by RUBEN BOLLING

Panel 1: a sign outside a diner

CENTRAL DINER WELCOME BACK ELITIST COASTAL REPORTERS

Panel 2: a reporter talking to a waitress

Waitress: Hey, Bill. It's been a while! What's your angle, hon? Reporter: Trump's enduring popularity with salt-of-the-Earth real Americans. Waitress: You'll want Roger and Abby over in booth 4. Roger (in a red cap): Over here!

Panel 3: A reporter calling out to men in red caps in booths

Reporter: Anybody here a real American farm owner with a severe labor shortage who doesn't know that Trump opposes immigration? Man in red cap: Me! Have a seat!

Panel 4: A reporter and a cameraman at a booth with a woman (Sandra) eating a hamburger

Reporter: Hi, Sandra. Just sit here while I tape my intro... Sandra: Alright. Reporter: "Here in America's real heartland, very real Americans have not wavered in their support of Donald Trump."

Panel 5: The reporter from panel 4 continues to speak, while a woman reporter holding a notebook calls out to men in booths wearing red caps

Panel 4 reporter: Outside the ivory-tower confines of the coastal bubble where not-real Americans live, the prosecutions of Trump are seen as... Woman reporter: I'm on deadline! Anyone here a charismatic White Supremacist? Man in booth: Yo!

Panel 6: Reporter with a laptop at a booth with a woman drinking coffee

Reporter: Maybe with less racism, tell me again why you support Trump. Woman: Well, when he talks about non-Whites, he really tells it like it is. Reporter: Mmm... A little less.

Panel 7: Angry man in MAGA cap at booth talking to rapt reporter

Man: Yes, I'd like to punch you in your lamestream vermin face. Reporter: Fascinating! What are your views on Bud Light? On the price of eggs? Tell me *every*thing!

Panel 8: Couple talking to reporter while new man enters diner and speaks to Beth, the waitress

Man from couple: Everyone at January 6 was an FBI agent! Woman from couple: And everyone was a freedom-fighting patriot! Reporter: Got it. Both. Man talking to Beth: Table for one.

Panel 9: Man who entered restaurant turns to leave while Beth the waitress talks with him

Beth: Are you coastal media elite or heartland real American interview subject, hon? Speech bubble from out-of-panel: "Then Jack slams his real American fist into my effete, overeducated jaw!" SFX: POW! Man leaving diner: Never mind. I'll eat at home.

The End

#ruben bolling #tom the dancing bug #maga #media criticism #iowa caucus

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phasesgurl · 4 months

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another sonic 3 idea

There's some sort of commotion. the Wachowskis go to check it out. A lot of stuff is smashed, there's burn marks on the road. Someone must have been going way over the speed limit. Tom asks around to try to find out what happened. Sonic notices that people are looking at him weird--whispering to each other. He can't quite make out what. Then, he turns and gasps when he sees Commander Walters.

Tom also notices him there, walking over. "Olive Garden Guy? What's going on?" Tails comes over as well. "I don't know what happened here, but it seems like -" Noticing Commander Walter, he said, "Oh no, not that guy again." Noticing Knuckles' confused expression, he explained, "he kidnapped me and Sonic one time."

Walters said, "Don't worry, I'm only here to shed a little light on this case." He pulled out a tablet and brought up a video, turning it to show Tom.

The video showed something zipping around in the building that was robbed, smashing into guards, pausing only for a second half off-screen to pick up something small and green. Then, it jumped out a window.

Sonic rewound and paused to when it stopped. He could see a form sort of like his, but the quills were brushed up instead of down. "That guy looks sort of like--" he was interrupted by a hand being placed on his shoulder. He looked up to see another G.U.N. guy in police armor. He was about to ask what was going on when he got an answer.

"Sonic the Hedgehog, you are under arrest."

"What?!" Exclaimed Maddie. Walters remained calm. "You saw the video." Tails jumped in. "Sonic would never do that!" "I agree," said Wade's voice. The family turned to see the honorary uncle emerge from the crowd. "Sonic wouldn't steal something. At the very least, he'd leave some money for it after breaking in."

But someone in the crowd shouted, "It has to be him, what are the odds of there being two alien hedgehog that can run at the speed of sound?" Tails yelled back at her, "Me and Knuckles got here, didn't we?"

Then everybody started shouting at each other all at once. Half the people thought Sonic was too nice to do something like this, half thought it had to be him. Who else could it be?

Finally, Commander Walter yelled, "Enough of that!" The crowd fell silent. "Come on, Sonic." He said, putting a hand on Sonic's back to direct him to a black car behind him.

But Sonic turned back to his family "You can't just let him do this!" he exclaimed desperately. His eyes darted around the scene. He turned to Tom. "Dad, you don't actually think I'd do something like this, right?"

Sonic wasn't sure what he expected his adoptive father to say. What came out of his mouth definitely wasn't it.

"I...I don't know."

Tom actually didn't know. It couldn't have been Sonic...but at the same time, it couldn't have not been him. The look on the hedgehog's face that followed his statement--a combination of shock, hurt, and hopelessness broke Tom's heart. But before he could say anything else, Walters was pushing Sonic toward the car.

Sonic cast one hopeless look back to the Wachowskis. He saw Tails staring in disbelief, Knuckles simply confused, and Tom turning away, while Maddie put her arm around him, trying to comfort him.

Tails, Knuckles, and Wade couldn't pull their eyes away as the black car drove away.

***

That night, Tails and Knuckles walked into their attic bedroom

"You mean you actually think Sonic robbed that place?!"

Knuckles explained, "I saw no evidence otherwise."

Tails didn't let up. "The guy in the video wasn't even the same color as Sonic! They were black, glowing orangish!"

"Could have been a poor quality camera." Knuckles positioned himself in front of a punching bag Maddie has bought when he moved in, deciding he needed a better way to "train" than turning the living room into a gladiator pit. Pow.

"I thought we knew Sonic better than this!" Tails continued. Knuckles didn't respond, other than unleashing another punch.

Pow.

"It couldn't have been him, Knuckles! What makes you think he would want to do this?"

Pow Pow.

"I can't believe that even though you know Sonic would do anything to protect this town and the people who live here, you still think-"

"OF COURSE I DON'T!"

POW!

And with one mighty swing, the bag came free of its pole and flew across the room.

Maddie was in the room shortly later. "Did someone get hurt, or did Knuckles just break his punching bag again?!" Tails pointed to the bag on the other side of the room. Maddie sighed. "I'll fix that in the morning. Or get one more Knuckles-proof." She climbed down the ladder.

Knuckles waited until she was out of earshot before saying, "I don't want to believe Sonic is a criminal, Tails. But with the information we have now, my honor will not let me believe otherwise. Nobody who knows Sonic would want to think he's bad."

Tails nodded. Most of the people against him were people who didn't know Sonic very well. But something Knuckles had said gave him an idea.

"Let's get some sleep. We can figure this out in the morning."

Tails hopped into his bed. He liked the way that the beds themselves had the color of the brother one to right, except Knuckles, since he was the furthest right, and the blankets were the color of the mobian sleeping under them. But it wasn't really the same looking to his right and not seeing the blue hedgehog sleeping on his side.

Of course, he didn't actually plan on falling asleep. He waited until he was reasonably sure Knuckles was asleep, then, quietly as he could, he gathered some gadgets in his yellow backpack. Camera? Good idea. Electronic notepad? Definitely. Laser gun? He paused on that one, but decided to bring it just in case he ran into the real culprit.

Now the hard part.

Tails wasn't sure weather flying or walking to the door would be quieter. He put one foot forward and--creeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeak. Oops. Flying it was.

He spun his tails and lifted off. It did make a faint whippa-whippa-whippa-whippa noise, but it seemed quieter than the creaky floor. he landed in front of the door and reached out to turn the handle--

"What are you doing?"

Crap. Knuckles was awake.

Tails turned around. "I was just, uh..."

"Save it. I know you want to go and collect evidence to prove Sonic's innocence, but you're not--"

"Knuckles, it's not like I'm trying to bust him out of jail or something!"

Knuckles gave him a look. "Let me finish. You're not going, without me."

This surprised Tails. "Wait, really?"

Knuckles grinned. "I said I don't want to believe Sonic is a criminal. This is my chance not to."

Tails was so happy he could hug Knuckles. "Let's go." He reached for the handle again--

"Hold on, Tails."

The fox turned around. "What now?"

Knuckles was dead serious. "If we go that way, we risk waking the Donut Lord and Lady of Pretzels. I suggest an alternate way out of the house."

"How? The room only has one door."

Knuckles looked up at the ceiling, Tails' eyes followed. When he saw the skylight, he knew exactly what Knuckles was thinking of.

"I see what you're getting at..." he announced. He flew upward, pushing it open before going back down to pick up Knuckles.

They touched down in the yard. "Whew," breathed Tails. "You're still heavy."

"Irrelevant," proclaimed Knuckles. "We must prove the hedgehog innocent!"

Having caught his breath, Tails nodded. The two ran off into town.

***

Sonic was sitting in a cell. There were no bars, but there was a large blue force field across the entrance preventing him from leaving. The feeling that spawned when Tom said he didn't know hadn't left yet.

Sonic tried not to get mad at Tom. It wasn't his fault. He saw something out of context. But Sonic had a lot of anger inside right now, and it needed to go somewhere.

He was torn between giving it to G.U.N. and the doppelganger in the video, but before he could make a conclusion, someone was knocking on the cell.

Well, the wall just beside the force field. Sonic could still hear it.

"What." he said, still rather angry.

"Commander Walters would like a word with you."

Sonic turned away. "I don't think we have anything to say to each other."

"It's not something you have a say in," said the guy, putting in a code to disable the force field.

Sonic got up and followed the agent. What was the Olive garden guy going to say? Sonic was pretty sure he was just going to be terminated or something.

After what felt like forever, he arrived at a room with a table that had two chairs opposite each other. One was occupied by Walters, the other was empty.

"Have a seat."

Sonic sat down.

"In the chair."

He got up from the floor. A year or two ago, he would have made that mistake due to not understanding Earth customs. This time it was more an act of resistance.

Once Sonic was seated in the correct place, Walter began talking. "Now, I know we've-"

"You're going to terminate me, aren't you?"

There were a few moments of silence between the hedgehog and the human. Sonic was sure it was because he'd called his bluff.

"Actually, no."

Sonic raised his eyebrow. Was this a lie?

"I know we've had minor disagreements in the past-"

"You threw an electric net on me!"

"Okay, not so minor. the point is, I need your help."

Sonic continued to stare. "You, a commander of a secret government organization, need help from me, a 13 year old child."

"With super-speed and lightning powers. Any more interruptions before I go on?"

Sonic's expression didn't change. "I wasn't the one who robbed that place."

"I know."

"I guess I can se--wait. You know?"

"Yes"

"Did...did you know from the start?"

"Yes."

"And..." Sonic felt his fury coming to the surface. "And you arrested me anyway!?!"

"I understand why-"

Sonic stood up. "Everybody in my hometown thinks I'm a criminal! I'm a wanted hog, and-and my own dad thinks I'm a thief!" Sonic could feel tears seeping into the corner of his eyes, and lighting began to coarse over his body. "My life just got totally uprooted, and you mean to tell me it was all because of something YOU KNEW WAS A LIE THE ENTIRE TIME!?!?"

Pant, pant.

Throughout Sonic's little speech, Walters stayed calm. "Do you think you have it out of your system yet?"

Sonic sat back down. "I think I'm good."

"The thing is, this isn't the only time that this thief has struck." He turned to the wall, which had a screen that now had a map of the world with red dots on it, presumably where this other hedgehog had been spotted. "He's been all over the world, causing chaos. The public was beginning to get angry, they needed to hear something good so they'd know we're protecting them."

Sonic shook his head. "So when they think you've solved the problem, but this guy goes at it again, what then? You've just made it worse for yourself."

"He's not going to," said Commander Walters. "Because of you."

Sonic looked surprised.

"See, he's related to an abandoned program called Project Shadow, the quest to create the ultimate weapon. However, the scientist in charge went off the plan. It became too dangerous and too hard to control. We had to shut down the program and seal the project away."

"Woah."

"However, your acquaintance Robotnik has attempted to get the weapon for himself. In the wrong hands it could be extremely dangerous. Hell, It could be devastating in the right hands." He turned back to Sonic. "That's why we need you to get Project Shadow and bring to us so we can destroy it once and for all."

Sonic thought about it. "I'm usually don't help people who frame me for robbery and destroy my father's trust in me."

Walters said, "We didn't expect you to do this for free, of course. We expected you to be angry at our methods of getting you here. So, we do have compensation for helping us."

Sonic said nothing, but his face showed he was interested in the reward.

"We'll give you ID and adoption certificates. You and your friends live here on Earth legally, and Gardian Units of Nations won't be able to bother you."

Sonic turned away, thinking. Being able to not have to hide from the world, because no one would bother him about being there illegally. The Wachowskis weren't able to use things like commercial airlines right now because the kids didn't have ID. Tom probably was still mad because he thought Sonic was a robber, but would making himself and his brothers safe ease that? Tom wouldn't be sticking his neck out to take care of them any longer...

"Well?"

Sonic turned back to the commander. "Deal."

#Later Sonics gonna be like “You didn't mention the ultimate weapon was a dude!”#sonic movie #sonic the hedgehog #shadow the hedgehog #sonic wachowski #knuckles the echidna #knuckles wachowski #wachowski brothers #wachowski family #wade whipple #tom wachowski #donut lord #pretzel lady #maddie wachowski #commander walters #sonic 3 speculation #sonic 3 #sonic movie 3 #sonic the hedgehog 3

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sunkissedpup · 10 days

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┊ ┊ ┊ ┊ . ࣪☾⭑ ┊ ┊ ┊ . ⋆ ۫ ┊ ┊ . ★.˚ ┊ . ˚☆ ࣪⊹ ˖ִ𑁤 Welcome to Boy’s profile .ᐟ ִֶָ ༘⋆

🧃⋆˙ᝰ.ᐟ This is my safe space, please read the info about me and be respectful ☀️

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INFO : Collective name : Boy ノ Milo 𓆦 he/they/bug ⭐️ 2 - 8 | Audhd + osdd 🧩 1(6) teenie .ᐟ 𓆑 healing through agere + petre.. ⋆.˚⚘⭒ Puppyboy 🐶🐾

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Extra info .ᐟ osdd system, individual headmates who regress will be using this blog // will be separated by emoji sign offs ^^

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One more thing! If you have an ask you want to send to someone specific, please say who exactly you want to answer ! 🐛🪲

#// scribbles 🖍️#age regression #agere #sfw agere #age regressor #agere blog #boy regression #boy regressor #sfw petre #pet regression

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celticcrossanon · 6 months

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"Masters Of The Air" WW2 miniseries vs. H a r r y

I’ve been watching the new miniseries “Masters Of The Air” (produced by Steven Spielberg and Tom Hanks and starring Austin Butler) about the US Army Air Force 100th bomb group stationed in the UK during WW2 the past few months while simultaneously reading about Prince Harry and the upcoming 10th anniversary of the Invictus Games this May.

It’s really incredible that American airmen flew in unpressurized bomber planes in minus 60 degree Fahrenheit temperature during WW2. The airmen had to wear special heating suits because if for example they took their gloves off during a fight at high altitudes because their guns jammed, their fingers could painlessly and bloodlessly amputate all the way up to their knuckles. The airmen could literally see their own fingers snap off and fly across the belly of the plane.

23% of all US Army Air crews survived during the WW2 air campaign in Europe with the rest either being shot and/or killed while in the air or their planes were shot down.

Those who survived via parachute after their planes were shot down either escaped back to the UK via resistance groups, were taken to POW camps for the remainder of the war or in some cases were killed by enraged German civilians on the ground.

The first episode started in January with the last episode concluding in mid-March.

I mention all this because Harry has been in the news for weeks, whining about his lack of taxpayer funded security while not feeling safe to attend the Invictus Games 10th anniversary event in London and tonight another article popped up in the Daily Mail about Harry going to a Better Up conference in San Francisco to lecture people about 'Beyond Burnout: Transforming C-Level Stress Into Strength.’

Harry has no clue about executives in stressful jobs. Nor does he have any clue about serving in combat or what honor and loyalty means. Harry actually endangered troops in Afghanistan during both of his tours overseas because he wanted to play soldier.

It’s incredible to look at genuine heroism and sacrifice from WW2 servicemen and women vs a complete royal fraudster who couldn’t even be accepted into the British Army on his own merits because Harry was reportedly too busy drinking and doing drugs while at Eton. Harry got into Sandhurst because his grandmother was the Head of the Armed Forces.

All of these battle hardened WW2 veterans would scoff at this whiny, treacherous, cowardly ginger prick who reportedly is so afraid to attend a church service for the Invictus Games on his own despite bragging about killing 25 enemy combatants in Afghanistan in his memoirs.

It’s a damn shame the Royal Family had the British media to help turn Harry’s PR image from a drug using frat boy into a “war hero” as Harry is anything but a genuine war hero– and uses disabled veterans from IG in order to make himself look good.

And BTW, the miniseries “Masters Of The Air” is quite good and is based on the book by the same name. I’m proud and grateful for WW2 veterans while simultaneously shaking my head at the royal disgrace that is Prince Harry.

Hi TeaWithBooks,

The hardships that the soldiers of WWI, WWII and other wars suffered to defend their countries are incredible to read about. They were all courageous at a level that is not brought out by circumstances today (I say this knowing veterans of those wars and having them in my family).

Harry is nothing in comparison. He does not have the courage that those men possessed. His cowardice and entitlement are thrown into relief by the service of true veterans everywhere. The idea of him coping with stress, let alone using it for anything else, is laughable because, as you said, he has no clue about working in a stressful job.

The palace PR did a brilliant job with “Hero Harry”, but I am glad it has come to an end and we can all see Harry as he really is. I much refer the truth over PR lies.

I have learnt to tune out Harry’s whining. If he is not whining about something he is bragging about how wonderful he is, both of which are very unattractive traits.

I believe you can find military men commenting on Harry’s behaviour on some sites, and what they say is not flattering. The truth always comes out in the end.

#submission

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usafphantom2 · 9 months

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Sonic booms certainly had its place in history. David Peters recently told me about flying over Cuba when a Soviet friend of the Cubans was arriving they just happened to be the right place at the right time to leave the signature boom boom. I applaud the X 59 and its effort for passenger air travel mission. But let’s also remember the sonic boom had its place in history,

“No one could believe that we came within two seconds of the mark,’ Colonel Richard “Butch” Sheffield, SR-71 Blackbird RSO.”

The Sound of Freedom. 51 years ago, on May 2, 1972.

During the Vietnam War, the word was out that the prisoners that the Vietnamese had captured were being tortured. They were struggling to find a plan to rescue the POWs. Attempts to escape had been met with beatings for the entire camp of prisoners of war if one person attempted to escape. In May 1972 a new plan was installed telling the POWs that if they hear the sound of thunder that they were to escape and run down to the river where there would be Navy SEALs waiting to rescue them. There was disagreement among the inmates about whether to risk another escape. A senior POW convinced them that it wasn’t right to make everyone in the camp suffer if they were captured during the escape. Without knowing that the POWs were not going to escape the plan went forth.

The plan was for two SR-71 Blackbird spy planes to fly over the Hanoi Hilton.

The flight plan was to fly the SR‘s so close that their sonic booms would be only 30 seconds apart. On May 2 and May 4 this happened. POW signal, May 2, 1972, SR-71 number, 979, first of three aircraft. The first indication I had that we might fly a mission like this, (where two SR-71 would crisscross over North Vietnam thirty seconds apart), was when one of the planners asked me at the OL “how close, in time, can you come over a point on the ground?” I told him, “as close as you want.” I don’t think he believed me because he said, “can you come to the point within thirty seconds to two minutes?” I said, “of course, we can control airspeed and reach the point at the time you want us to be at the point in space.”We had this capability because we had insisted at Edwards’, in 1965, that we know the time to the next point, (time to go) something the computer experts and engineers at Edwards’ never thought about and never understood why we needed this information.

Flying the mission was easy. All we asked for was a destination point be placed in the computer where they wanted us to be and the time to be there.

The mission planners told us to make it as close to thirty seconds as we could and they realized that would be very hard to do because we would be closing on each other at a combined speed of Mach six. Bob Spencer and I, Richard “Butch” Sheffield we were the senior crew in the wing at the time, and Chief of the Standardization Division; were selected to lead both the missions and take off first. Darrel Cobb and Reg Blackwell was the spare crew and took off later to position themselves to replace either aircraft. Tom Pugh and Ron Rice took off about an hour later and met us over Hanoi.

After refueling over Thailand, we climbed to altitude and heading north along the China boarder. Once we reach the speed were our inlets and spikes programmed properly, we clicked our mike to single Cobb and Blackwell that we were OK and going on to the target. They flew a random course back to Kadena. About three days after we landed back at Kadena, the staff decided to look at Cobb and Blackwell’s film collected on the random course back to Kadena. A POW camp was found.

On May 4, 1972 we did it all over again the same exact mission (SR-71 number 980, first of three).

Same results, but we shaved one half second off the separation time to thirty-one and one half second.

I am proud of my father that he participated in and helped in the planning of the mission of the sound of freedom.`Linda Sheffield

@Habubrats71 via X

34 notes · View notes