List of U-2, SR-71 Units, with Bases, OLs, and Dets

List of U-2, SR-71 Units, with Bases, OLs, and Dets

by Andreas Gehrs-Pahl

Here is the corrected and completed list of all U-2 and SR-71 units, their bases, OLs and Dets. (Last update January 11, 1995)

Det X (USAF / CIA), Detachments):

Detachment, USAF / CIA deployment base for U-2 reconnaissance aircraft (later OL-n, then to OL-XX and Det n), where _X_ is a capital letter:

Det A - RAF Lakenheath, England, 1st WRSP, (WRSP-1), (Weather Reconnaissance Squadron, Provisional), moved to:

- Wiesbaden AB, Germany, moved to:

- Giebelstadt AB, Germany

Det B - Incirlik AFB, Turkey, 2nd WRSP, (WRSP-2), later also known as:

Det 10-10, or TUSLOG (Turkey-US Logistics Group)

Det C - Atsugi AB, Japan, 3rd WRSP, (WRSP-3)

Det D - ?

Det E - ?

Det F - ?

Det _ - Groom (Dry) Lake Test Facility, 4th WRSP, (WRSP-4), also known as: 'Watertown Strip', 'Area 51', 'The Area', 'The Ranch', 'Paradise Ranch', 'Dreamland', with U-2, moved 6/1960 to:

Det G - Edwards AFB, North Base, California, USAF Flight Test Center, also known as 'Special Projects Branch',

- 1969 redesignated 1130th ATTG, and belonging to ARDC, together with the 6512th TG (also at Edwards AFB)

Det G'- Takhli RTAFB, Thailand, (pronounced "G prime"), ground crew from Det G to suport aircraft and pilots drom Det H

Det H - Taoyuan AB, Taiwan, 35th Squadron, 'Black Cats', 6th Group, RoCAF

OL-n (USAF, Operating Locations):

Operating Location, SAC deployment base for U-2 and SR-71 reconnaissance aircraft (later called Det n), where _n_ is a sequence number:

OL-1 - ?

OL-2 - ?

OL-3 - ?

OL-4 - ?

OL-5 - Eielson AFB, Alaska, U-2, (HASP-deployment 1958 - 3/1960)

OL-6 - ?

OL-7 - ?

OL-8 - Kadena AB, Okinawa, Japan, U-2, SR-71, also known as:

OL-RK, (OLRK), then OL-KA, (OLKA), later to Det 1

OL-9 - ?

OL-10 - ?

OL-11 - RAAF Laverton, East Sale, Australia, U-2, (HASP-deployment 11/1960 and 10/1961), moved to:

- RAAF Avalon, Australia, U-2, (the very last HASP-deployment 2/1965), and back to:

- RAAF Laverton, Australia, U-2, (HiCAT-deployment 7/1966)

OL-12 - ?

OL-13 - ?

OL-14 - ?

OL-15 - ?

OL-16 - ?

OL-17 - ?

OL-18 - Howard AFB, Panama Canal Zone, U-2, (HASP-deployment), and - Albrook AFB, Panama Canal Zone, U-2, (HASP-deployment and HiCAT-deployment)

OL-19 - Barksdale AFB, Louisiana, U-2, (including HiCAT deployment), moved 1969 to:

- McCoy AFB, Florida, U-2

OL-20 - Bien Hoa AB, Vietnam, also known as: 'Lucky Dragon', 'Giant Dragon', and 'Trojan Horse', U-2, moved 7/1970 to:

- U-Tapao RTAFB, Thailand, U-2, to OL-RU, (OLRU), redesignated 99th SRS (November 1972)

OL-XX (USAF, Operating Locations):

Operating Location, SAC deployment base for U-2 and SR-71 reconnaissance aircraft (before and later called Det n), where _XX_ is a two letter code:

OL-RK - Kadena AB, Okinawa, Japan, U-2 and SR-71, also known as:

OL-8, OL-KA, (OLKA), (OLRK), later to Det 1, (disestablished ?), (OL-8 became OL-RK on 10/30/1970, later changed to OL-KA), (OL-RK stands for "Operating Location - Ryukyys", a chain of islands, of which Okinawa is a part of)

OL-KA - Kadena AB, Okinawa, Japan, U-2 and SR-71, also known as: OL-8, OL-RK, (OLRK), (OLKA), later to Det 1, (disestablished ?), (OL-RK became OL-KA on 10/21/1971, to Det 1 in 08/1974),(OL-KA stands for "Operating Location - Kadena")

OL-RU - U-Tapao RTAFB, Thailand, U-2, previously known as: OL-20 (at Bien Hoa, Vietnam, moved to U-Tapao RTAFB in 07/1970), (redesignated 99th SRS, 11/1972, and moved back to Beale AFB, CA) (OL-RU stands probably for "Operating Location - RTAFB U-Tapao" ?)

OL-SB - Seymour Johnson AFB, North Carolina, SR-71, (used for operational non-stop reconnaisance flights over Egypt, Israel, and Syria during the Yom Kipur War 1973/74),(OL-SB might stand for "Operating Location - Seymour B..." ?)

OL-OH - RAF Akrotiri, Cyprus, U-2, also known as: (OLOH), later to Det 3, (1992 redesignated 5th RS, 9th RW), missions were code named 'Olive Harvest', maybe nicknamed 'Fantasy Island' (source 11),redesignated Det. 1; (OL-OH probably stands for "Operating Location - 'Olive Harvest'")

OL-CH - Al Taif AB, Saudi Arabia, 1700th RW(P), 1704th RS(P), U-2, (during Desert Shield/Desert Storm and follow-up), missions were code named 'Camel Hump', probably redesignated 4402nd RS; (OL-CH probably stands for "Operating Location - 'Camel Hump'")

OL-UK - RAF Alconbury, UK, U-2, previously designated 95th TRS, 17th RW, (inactivated 09/15/1993, while operations continue as OL-UK), moved 03/15/1995 to RAF Fairford; (OL-UK stands for "Operating Location - United Kingdom")

OL-FR - BA 125 Istres, Le Tube, France, (Base Aerienne 125 = Air Base # 125) CNES Flight Test Center, (OL-FR stands for "Operating Location - France")

Det n (USAF, Detachments):

Detachment, SAC/ACC deployment base for U-2 and SR-71 reconnaissance aircraft (previously OL-n), where _n_ is (usually) a sequence number:

Det 1 - Kadena AB, Okinawa, Japan, 1129th SAS, A-12, and 9th SRW, U-2, SR-71, (ex OL-KA, (OLKA), ex OL-RK, (OLRK), ex OL-8)

- RAF Akrotiri, Cyprus, (ex 5th RS, 9th RW, U-2, ex OL-OH, (OLOH)), maybe nicknamed 'Fantasy Island'

Det 2 - Osan AB, South Korea, 9th SRW, redesignated 6th RS, 9th RW, redesignated 5th RS, 9th RW, U-2

Det 3 - Ramey AFB, Puerto Rico, U-2, (HASP-deployment 1958, MIDAS-deployment and HiCAT-deployment), moved to: - RAF Akrotiri, Cyprus, 9th SRW, redesignated 5th RS, 9th RW, U-2, (ex OL-OH, (OLOH)), to Det 1, maybe nicknamed 'Fantasy Island'

Det 4 - Plattsburgh AFB, New York, U-2, (HASP-deployment), moved to: - Ezeiza AB, Argentina, U-2, (HASP-deployment 9/11/58 to 8/1959 and 5/1960 to 6/1960), moved to: - RAF Mildenhall, UK, 99th SRS, 9th SRW, established 3/31/1979, U-2 and SR-71A, (the U-2s moved 1980 to RAF Alconbury, UK, becoming the 95th TRS, 17th RW, 1991 to OL-UK, which moved 03/15/1996 to RAF Fairford, UK) 1980 - 1991 only SR-71

Det 5 - Patrick AFB, Florida, 9th SRW, U-2, (MIDAS-deployment and HiCAT-deployment)

Det 51 - Palmdale, California, Air Force Plant 42, Lockheed Plant 10, (ex Site II), 2762th Logistics Squadron, AFLC, U-2 and SR-71, (before 12/31/1970, operations were part of AFSC), reorganisation 09/1977 to:

Det 6 - Palmdale, California, Air Force Plant 42, Lockheed Plant 10, (ex Site II), 2762th Logistics Squadron, AFLC, (ex Det 51), U-2 and SR-71, (Headquaters at Norton AFB, California)

Det 10-10 - Incirlik AFB, Turkey, also known as TUSLOG (Turkey-US Logistics Group), ex Det B (or 2nd WRSP), U-2

Main Bases and SAC / TAC / ACC Wings:

- Turner AFB, Georgia, 4080th SRW(L), (established April, 1, 1956), equipped with RB-57D, moved February-April 1957 to:

- Laughlin AFB, Texas, 4080th SRW(L), equipped with U-2 and RB-57D, redesignated 4080th SRW, (June 15, 1963), finished July 1963 move to:

- Davis-Monthan AFB, Arizona, 4080th SRW, redesignated 100th SRW, (June 15, 1966),became 100th AREFW at Beale AFB, with KC-135, and U-2 operations transferred to 9th SRW, (March/April 1976), at:

- Beale AFB, California, 4200th SRW, (established January 1, 1965), with SR-71 and T-38, redesignated 9th SRW, (established June 25, 1966), combining all operational SR-71 and U-2, (March/April 1976), all SR-71 retiered (January 26, 1990), redesignated 9th Wing, (1990, when SAC became a part of ACC), with U-2 and T-38; redesignated 9th RW, (10/1992), with U-2 and T-38

- RAF Alconbury, UK, 17th RW, (established 1976), with U-2, ex Det 4, inactivated (September 15, 1993), operations continued as OL-UK, moved 03/15/1995 to:

- RAF Fairford, UK, operations as OL-UK may have ceased and were possibly completely transfered to:

- Istres AB, France, as OL-FR

SAC / TAC / ACC Squadrons:

- 4080th SRW(L) / 4025th SRS(L) 'Black Knights', (activated June 8, 1955), at Lockbourne AFB, Ohio, no aircraft assigned/received, moved: to Turner AFB, Georgia, equipped with RB-57D, (May 1956), moved: to Laughlin AFB, Texas, (February/May 1957), deactivated June 15, 1960, RB-57D retired,

4080th SRW / 4025th RS, (reactivated July 1, 1965), at Davis-Monthan AFB, with AQM/BQM-34, (ex Operation 'Lightning Bug'), 100th SRW / 350th SRS, (redesignated June 15, 1966), deactivated 1976, when all SAC RPV assets were transferred to TAC

- 4080th SRW / 4028th SRS, (activated May 1, 1956) at Laughlin AFB, Texas, equipped with U-2, (June 11, 1957) 4028th SRWS, (redesignated June 13, 1957), moved: to Davis-Monthan AFB, (July 1963), 100th SRW / 349th SRS, (redesignated June 15, 1966), all U-2 operation transferred to 99th SRS, (1976), 100th AREFW / 349th AREFS, (redesignated 1976), with KC-135

- 4080th SRW(L) / 4029th SRS(L), (paper unit, allocated April 1, 1956), deactivated 1960, 9th SRW / 4029th SRTS, (reactivated August 1, 1981), with U-2R, SR-71, and T-38 9th SRW / 5th SRTS 'The Dragon Tamers', (redesignated 1976), deactivated (?),

- 9th SRW / 1st SRS, (activated 1960), with SR-71, 9th RW / 1st RS, (redesignated 1992), with U-2 and T-38

- 9th RW / 5th RS, (established 1992), with U-2, (at RAF Akrotiri, Cyprus, (ex Det 3) (?), (at Osan AB, South Korea, (ex Det 2) (?),

- 9th RW / 6th RS, (established 1992), with U-2, (at Osan AB, South Korea, (ex Det 2), (disestablished ?)

- 9th SRW / 99th SRS, (established June 1966), with SR-71, deactivated (as SR-71 squadron) (April 1, 1971), 9th SRW / 99th SRS, (re-established November 1972), with U-2, (ex OL-RU at U-Tapao RTAFB, Thailand), 9th RW / 99th RS, (redesignated 1992)

- 17th RW / 95th TRS, (established 1976), with U-2, (at RAF Alconbury, UK, from ex Det 4),inactivated (September 15, 1993), operations continue as OL-UK

Other Units:

- 1129th SAS, Groom (Dry) Lake, Nevada, (Special Activities Squadron), (deployed only operational to Det 1, Kadena AB, Okinawa), established 1961/62 (?), CIA operated, deactivated June 1968, with A-12

- 1130th ATTG, Edwards AFB, North Base, California, USAF Flight Test Center, (Air Technical Training Group), also known as 'Special Projects Branch', ex 4th WRSP, (WRSP-4), ex Det G, established mid-1969, (belonged to ARDC), CIA operated, deactivated mid-1974, with U-2

- 2762th LS, Palmdale, Airforce Plant 42, (Logistics Squadron), (belongs to AFLC), U-2 and SR-71

- 1700th RW(P), Al Taif AB, Saudi Arabia, (Reconnaissance Wing (Provisional)), (also known as OL-CH), with:

- 1704th RS(P), Al Taif AB, Saudi Arabia, (Reconnaissance Squadron (Provisional)), (also known as OL-CH), with U-2, (probably) redesignated:

- 4402nd RS, Al Taif AB, Saudi Arabia, (Reconnaissance Squadron), and belonging/assigned to 9th RW

- 4200th TW, Beale AFB, California, (Test Wing), with B-52H and D-21B, with:

- 4200th TS, Beale AFB, California, (Test Squadron), with B-52H and D-21B, and:

- 4200th A/SS, Beale AFB, California, (Air/Support Squadron), (maybe with B-52H and D-21B, maybe redesignated to 4200th TS)

- 4786th TS, Edwards AFB, North Base, California, (Test Squadron), designated January 16, 1970, (ex SR-71/YF-12 Test Force, established June 1965), with YF-12 (and SR-71 ?)

- 6512th TG, Edwards AFB, North Base, California, (Test Group), (belongs to ARDC), with U-2

Other Operating Locations may include the following bases and air fields around the world:

OL-x - Anderson AFB, Guam, U-2, (HASP-deployment)

OL-x - Bodo AB, Norway, U-2 and SR-71

OL-x - Charbatia, India, U-2

OL-x - Diego Garcia AB, Chagos Archipelago, U-2 and SR-71 (once)

OL-x - Elmendorf AFB, Alaska, U-2, (HiCAT-deployment)

OL-x - Fiji Islands, U-2, (HASP-deployment and HiCAT-deployment)

OL-x - Griffiss AFB, New York, SR-71

OL-x - Hanscom AFB, Alaska, U-2, (HiCAT-deployment)

OL-x - Hickam AFB, Hawai, U-2, (HASP-deployment and HiCAT-deployment)

OL-x - Kunsan AB, South Korea, U-2, (1960s)

OL-x - Lahore, Pakistan, U-2

OL-x - Loring AFB, Maine, U-2, (HiCAT-deployment)

OL-x - Meshad, Iran, U-2

OL-x - Minot AFB, North Dakota, U-2, (HASP-deployment 9/1959)

OL-x - NAS Cubi Point, Philippines, U-2

OL-x - Offut AFB, Nebraska, U-2

OL-x - Peshawar, Pakistan, U-2

OL-x - RAE Bedford, UK, U-2, (HiCAT-deployment 3/1967)

OL-x - RAF Watton, UK, U-2, (RAF testing )

OL-x - RAF Wethersfield, UK, U-2, (ALSS-deployment Summer 1975)

OL-x - RNZAF Christchurch, New Zealand, U-2, (HiCAT-deployment 6/1966)

OL-x - San Angelo, Texas, U-2, (HASP-deployment)

OL-x - Sioux City, Iowa, U-2, (HASP-deployment)

OL-x - Warner-Robins AFB, Georgia, U-2 and SR-71, (SYPO - Senior Year Programs Office)

OL-x - Zahedan airstrip, Iran, U-2

Civil Airports:

- Burbank Airport, California, Lockheed Corporation, U-2 and SR-71

- Van Nuys Airport, California, Lockheed Corporation, U-2

Aircraft Carrier:

CVA-61 - USS Ranger - used for tests March 2/5, 1964, (U-2G 'N801X' and 'N808X'), with 'O.N.R.' titles, and operationally in May 1964 for 'Operation Seeker') and maybe again in 1965/66

CVA-63 - USS Kitty Hawk - used for initial U-2A carrier tests in August of 1963, (U-2A 'N315X')

CVA-66 - USS America - used for U-2R carrier qualification in November of 1969, (U-2R 'N812X')

There are more locations, especially deployments of NASA aircraft, which I have missed, please feel free to correct me and add your own $0.02

Sources: ======== 1) Dragon Lady - The History of the U-2 Spyplane, by Chris Pocock

2) Lockheed U-2 - AeroGraph 3, by Jay Miller

3) Lockheed U-2R/TR-1 - Aerofax Minigraph 28, by Jay Miller and Chris Pocock

4) Skunk Works - The First Fifty Years, by Jay Miller

5) Lockheed SR-71 Blackbird, by Paul F. Crickmore

6) Lockheed SR-71 - The Secret Missions Exposed, by Paul F. Crickmore

7) U-2 Spyplane in action, squadron/signal 86, by Larry Davis

8) SR-71 Blackbird in action, squadron/signal 55, by Lou Drendal

9) Gulf Air War Debrief, World Air Power Journal, Editor: Stan Morse

10) United States Air Force Yearbook 1994

11) The Black Watch, by Gann (which I don't know/have)

12) The Oxcart Story, by "Thomas P. McIninch"

13) email from John Stone <[email protected]>

14) various Aviation Week & Space Technology (AW&ST) magazines and many other.

© 1995 by Andreas Gehrs-Pahl