USAF Patch Recon s Wing 9 SRW Strategic Reconnaissance Wg USAFE Det 4 SR 71 Blackbird b4a

USAF Patch USAFE Det 4 RAF Mildenhall 9 SRW Strategic Reconnaissance Wing SR 71 Blackbird 3+ Patch 1980s English made Embroidered on twill merrowed edge 118mm by 72mm four and five eighth inches by two and three quarter inches.

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Following the activation of 9 Strategic Reconnaissance Wing on 25 June 1966 to operate the SR 71 Blackbird and U 2 worldwide from Beale AB and with the importance of intelligence collection increasing as the Cold War progressed the Wing operated permanent units as Detachments Dets and temporary site as Operating Locations OLs around the world.

9 Strategic Reconnaissance Wing activated its OL at RAF Mildenhall England in April 1976 to carry out SR 71 Blackbird and U 2R Dragon Lady reconnaissance operations on a rotational basis. UK permission was required for each sortie flown and the SR 71 Blackbird aircraft could only stay at RAF Mildenhall for a maximum of 20 days on each visit from the US. On 5 April 1982 Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher announced two SR 71 aircraft would be based at RAF Mildenhall on a permanent basis as Detachment 4 from January 1983 with the UK remaining in control of the more sensitive missions. In addition to its missions over Europe Det 4 took part in operation Eldorado Canyon over Libya in 1986. Det 4 ceased operations on 22 November 1989 with the last SR 71 aircraft departing the UK on 18 January 1990.

This patch dates from the 1980s.