SR71 EMR Calibration Flight

Sometime in the late 60s it became necessary to assess the accuracy of the SR-71 ELINT system. In order to do this the Air Force was able to enlist some calibration vans that Lockheed used for some of the satellite check out. The Vans were available and we’re parked near the Lockheed Sunnyvale complex. Captain Andy LaChance and I were to monitor and coordinate the testing. The individuals running the Vans and their emitters were from Lockheed Sunnyvale and had never seen an SR71 but knew what the reasons for the test. The Vans were moved to a small airport near King City, California. The airport was on a plateau near King City and the Vans were parked on the west side of the airport, about 100 yards from the runway, with antennas mounted on the vans, radiating toward the Pacific. For several days the SR71 flew in a race track pattern about 30-40 miles off the coast at less than Mach. We were in radio contact with the SR71 crew, and knew when they would be starting each pattern, when they would be stopping for refueling, and when they would restart again. The radiation spectrum covered the collection capability ELINT system.
On the final mission of the last day the pilot of the SR71 was Bill Campbell and the RSO was Al Pennington. Bill Campbell and I were classmates at a master’s degree program being taught by USC at Beale Air Force Base. As we notified the SR71 of the end of the test, I asked Bill Campbell if he could do a fly by so we could show the Lockheed people what the SR really look like and then I signed off. About 15 minutes later I was on top of one of the Vans helping to remove the antennas. I looked North from the airport which was on a plateau and saw the SR71 very close to ground level approaching the airport. I stomped on the roof of the van and yelled and screamed for the Lockheed people to come out and take a look; the SR71 was very low and came directly over the King City Airport which was east of our location. As Bill came abreast of our location he pulled up, hit the ABs and gained altitude very quickly and headed back to Beale Air Force Base. Several days later Bill Campbell told me he was called to the Wing Commander’s office to explain why he was at such a low altitude at that location.  Al Pennington told me he looked out his side window and saw me jumping and waving as they flew by. My only regret is that I didn’t have my camera with me while dismantling the antennas on the van. It would have been a great picture.