#OTD
31 May 1967: 1st A-12 operational flight “Article 131” took off from @KadenaAirBase @ 1100 local time. #HISTINT
bit.ly/2rVa6Im
Pilot Mele Vojvodich crossed coast of North Vietnam 1 hour & 14 minutes later, flying at a speed of Mach 3.1 at an altitude of 80,000 feet.
Total flight took 3hrs & 39 mins
Vojvodich flew planned route in less than 9 mins, refueled over Thailand, exited near DMZ & landed @ Kadena
Vojvodich photographed 70 of 190 known SAM sites & 9 priority targets, including an airfield, a military training area, & port at Haiphong.
Neither Chinese nor North Vietnamese radar tracked A-12, nor were missiles launched at it.
A-12s remained “untouchable” for another 4 months
Only 15 CIA A-12s were built.
3 would fly operational missions before replaced by @usairforce version: the SR-71.
1.usa.gov/1kPXYky
A-12 flights over E. Asia provided timely threat assessments, info on key installations, & found captured USS Pueblo
bit.ly/2rVa6Im
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