9TH SRW

• Origins: The 9th Strategic Reconnaissance Wing (9th SRW) was activated on November 25, 1948, at Fairfield-Suisun Air Force Base, California. • U-2 Dragon Lady: The 9th SRW is famously associated with operating the Lockheed U-2 high-altitude reconnaissance aircraft since the 1970s, providing critical intelligence during the Cold War and beyond. • SR-71 Blackbird: The wing became world-renowned for flying the SR-71 Blackbird, the fastest air-breathing manned aircraft ever built, conducting strategic reconnaissance missions from 1966 to 1990. • Beale AFB: The 9th SRW has been based at Beale Air Force Base, California, since 1966, serving as the hub for high-altitude reconnaissance operations. • Cold War Missions: During the Cold War, the 9th SRW played a key role in gathering intelligence over hostile territories including the Soviet Union, China, and Vietnam. • Gulf War Operations: The wing supported Operation Desert Storm in 1991 by providing real-time intelligence and reconnaissance with both U-2 and SR-71 aircraft. • Transition to Modern ISR: The 9th SRW now operates the RQ-4 Global Hawk, a high-altitude, long-endurance unmanned aerial vehicle, maintaining its tradition of cutting-edge reconnaissance. • Record Setters: Aircraft from the 9th SRW set multiple speed and altitude records, including the SR-71’s official absolute speed record of 2,193.2 mph in 1976. • Cuban Missile Crisis: U-2 pilots from the 9th SRW played a pivotal role in photographing Soviet missile installations in Cuba, directly influencing U.S. decisions during the 1962 crisis. • Emblem and Motto: The 9th SRW’s emblem features a winged sword and the motto “Freedom Through Vigilance,” reflecting its enduring mission of global surveillance and intelligence gathering.