SR-71 Hangars at Mildenhall

[shuck]

Which hangars did the SR-71 use at Mildenhall. I recall the 5th MAPS hangar, the large Team Mildenhall hangar and the purpose built twin barns by taxiway B. Did they use any others.

Cheers

[Proteus]

They used the old Navy hangar when it first came to Mildenhall.
I was given a guidedtour of an SR and it was in the single Hangar facing West Row, near the SR “barns”

[shuck]

The Air Fete static Blackbird was always in front of Hangar 538.

[Vulture 01]

Originally, I think they used the Team Mildenhall hangar as Shuck says. The U2 also nested there. They then had two purpose-built sheds near what is now the C130 line on the south-west corner of the base.
I can also recall seeing an SR being backed into one the HAS's near the Brandon road at Lakenheath. I think the jet was there whist they did some sort of runway work at MH.

[65thAgressor]

I remember the barns the kc135q were parked near by. On one visit the doors were open and one was parked up, magic moments as the song goes.

[f106dart]

Originally, I think they used the Team Mildenhall hangar as Shuck says. The U2 also nested there. They then had two purpose-built sheds near what is now the C130 line on the south-west corner of the base.
I can also recall seeing an SR being backed into one the HAS's near the Brandon road at Lakenheath. I think the jet was there whist they did some sort of runway work at MH.

I want to say when the SR-71 was at Lakenheath for mildenhall's Runway closure I believe they were in the Victor alert area if not it was close by in yellow section. I remember doing a standby on the fuel for the teb but I don't remember exactly what Tab vees they were at

[luxto]

I had a number of visits around Det4 and recorded them on 8mm cine film. Remember seeing U-2's in the former US Navy hangar but no SR's. Recall the Team Mildenhall hangar being used for the U-2 and SR at different times in the early days of the operation. The former 5th MAPS hangar was still in use as late as '85. During a visit to the unit on the 2nd of April'84 I filmed 17974 in the hangar and then 17958 operating from the purpose built shed. While 958 was airborne (ATD 1028), 974 was towed from the 5th MAPS hangar to replace 958 in the shed. Upon recovery (ATA 1418), 958 taxied to the 5th MAPS hangar completing the swap over. This was how they operated until the 2nd shed became operational.

[f106dart]

I just had a look on Google Earth and it's the building South of building 707 across the ramp from all the 130s. It's the drive-through hangar you can tell one side is a car park

[TealRain]

I just had a look on Google Earth and it's the building South of building 707 across the ramp from all the 130s. It's the drive-through hangar you can tell one side is a car park

Thanks, I had wondered where they were. I was a bit too young at the time to know that when they were deployed over here.

Mark

[quid21]

I just had a look on Google Earth and it's the building South of building 707 across the ramp from all the 130s. It's the drive-through hangar you can tell one side is a car park

Thanks, I had wondered where they were. I was a bit too young at the time to know that when they were deployed over here.

Mark

Yeah theres actually two drive through hangars there, just the same as those that used to be at Beale until the Global Hawks arrived there.

[shuck]

I had a number of visits around Det4 and recorded them on 8mm cine film. Remember seeing U-2's in the former US Navy hangar but no SR's. Recall the Team Mildenhall hangar being used for the U-2 and SR at different times in the early days of the operation. The former 5th MAPS hangar was still in use as late as '85. During a visit to the unit on the 2nd of April'84 I filmed 17974 in the hangar and then 17958 operating from the purpose built shed. While 958 was airborne (ATD 1028), 974 was towed from the 5th MAPS hangar to replace 958 in the shed. Upon recovery (ATA 1418), 958 taxied to the 5th MAPS hangar completing the swap over. This was how they operated until the 2nd shed became operational.

Was the single shed extended to become the purpose built twin barn or were they different builds. I think the twin barn was in use by summer 1985.

[luxto]

I had a number of visits around Det4 and recorded them on 8mm cine film. Remember seeing U-2's in the former US Navy hangar but no SR's. Recall the Team Mildenhall hangar being used for the U-2 and SR at different times in the early days of the operation. The former 5th MAPS hangar was still in use as late as '85. During a visit to the unit on the 2nd of April'84 I filmed 17974 in the hangar and then 17958 operating from the purpose built shed. While 958 was airborne (ATD 1028), 974 was towed from the 5th MAPS hangar to replace 958 in the shed. Upon recovery (ATA 1418), 958 taxied to the 5th MAPS hangar completing the swap over. This was how they operated until the 2nd shed became operational.

Was the single shed extended to become the purpose built twin barn or were they different builds. I think the twin barn was in use by summer 1985.

Memories a bit hazy but fairly sure they were different builds. Don't have all my 1985 notes to hand but I did see 1 parked outside the 5th MAPS on the 24th May'85.

[H.A.Bucken]

Scratchin' mi 'ead now. I was at The Hall one time when if memory serves, 17974 was launched on two consecutive days- a Friday and Saturday? The second day it had a big unstart after leaving runway 11; as it went round over West Row/Isleham it was trailing either unburnt fuel or commenced dumping. Around 35minutes later the SR-71 returned to land on r/w29 as a C-141 was held on t/w A. 1984, '87 or '88? It could have been the same event as pictured in one of Paul Crickmore's books. I'll have to refer to the slides collection.
I seem to recall that the "rev-shed", engine-tuning barn was taken down some ago; it should have been listed!
Roger

[Thunder]

The SR-71 leaked like a sieve on the ground due to loosely fitted panels and lack of a sealable fuel system, a better explanation can be found here
https://theaviationgeekclub.com/heres-w ... -fuel/amp/

[Proteus]

Roger, the “rev shed” as you call it is still there minus the twin exhausts.

[shuck]

Moving away from Mildenhall for a moment. Is the story about the SR-71 diverting to Upper Heyford in August 1970 true.

[quid21]

Moving away from Mildenhall for a moment. Is the story about the SR-71 diverting to Upper Heyford in August 1970 true.

According to this list, possibly not true, but open to any factual evidence.

http://www.sr71.us/triplog66_86.htm