U-2 community celebrates 6,000 days in Southwest Asia

  • Published
  • By Airman 1st Class George Cloutier
  • 9th Reconnaissance Wing Public Affairs
BEALE AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. --  In the past two years, the U-2 Dragon Lady has met major milestones.

The first notable highlight, the 50th anniversary of the U-2 Dragon Lady, took place in September 2005 and saw many U-2 veterans return home to celebrate the occasion. The 9th Reconnaissance Wing achieved a new landmark as Jan. 23 marked the 6,000th consecutive day of the U-2 program's continued dedication to missions in Southwest Asia.

"This milestone really highlights the relentless commitment by our operators, maintainers, and medical professionals, among others, who have put service before self and answered their nation's call," said Brig. Gen. H. D. Polumbo Jr., 9th RW commander. "The U-2 mission is just as important today supporting the Global War on Terror as it was back at the start of Operation Desert Shield or the Cuban Missile Crisis," said General Polumbo.

Only days after Operation Desert Shield started on Aug. 7, 1990, after the Iraqi force invaded Kuwait, U-2s were deployed to Southwest Asia to provide reconnaissance support for the war effort. Although the conflict ended quickly, U-2s have remained in Southwest Asia since, continuing to provide critical high-altitude reconnaissance.

The first U-2 arrived at Taif Air Base, Saudi Arabia, Aug. 16, 1990, said Dr. Coy Cross, 9th Reconnaissance Wing historian.

Over the past 6,000 days, the U-2 has operated in conjunction with many other airframes in Southwest Asia to help provide critical imagery to national and combatant commanders. Along with supporting operations in Southwest Asia, the 9th RW has also maintained two other overseas forward U-2 operating locations for the past 30 years.

"The operation at Osan Air Base, Republic of South Korea, began in February 1976, although the 9th Reconnaissance Wing did not take over the operation until July 1, 1976," said Dr. Cross. "We took over the operation at RAF Akrotiri (in Crete) on July 1, 1976, but that has been continuously in operation since Aug. 1, 1974, so that's nearly 12,000 consecutive days."

When looking back on its accomplishments during that time, the U-2 has gained a reputation as one of the nation's most valuable information gathering assets.

"In Desert Shield and the five months leading up to Desert Storm, the U-2 flew 284 sorties for 2,726 hours," Dr. Cross said. "They were averaging nearly 57 sorties a month from, at that time, only one location. During the six weeks of Desert Storm that followed, the Dragon Lady flew 260 sorties, for more than 2,000 hours."

With nearly 5,000 hours of flying, the immense contribution of the U-2 mission comes as no surprise, Dr. Cross said.

"When authorities looked back and analyzed where most of the imagery intelligence came from, approximately 50 percent of all imagery intelligence for Desert Storm and Desert Shield came from the U-2 and 30 percent of all intelligence for the war was furnished by the U-2," Dr. Cross said. "This continued to be true during Operations Iraqi and Enduring Freedom. The Dragon Lady has continued to provide, by far, the vast majority of imagery, both electronic and photo imagery for allied forces."

Operations Desert Shield and Desert Storm, while a success story for the U-2 program, were also a time of immense change in the way the Air Force utilized the aircraft. It was these changes that served as the turning point that led the U-2 to become what it is today.

"Desert Storm was really a 'coming-out party' for the U-2," Dr. Cross said. "Prior to that, it had really been a strategic asset, and as such the Strategic Air Command kept a very close hold on the U-2. They had a purpose for it, and that was as a strategic asset during long term planning in case of a nuclear war."

No nuclear weapons were ever deployed during the Cold War, though that conflict did not pass without its share of close calls. The first one involving a U-2 was when Gary Francis Powers was shot down May 1, 1960.

"When Gary Francis Powers was shot down over the Soviet Union, he was looking at Soviet missile sites and bomber bases to assess the military capability against the United States," Dr. Cross said. "The crisis drew the public eye on the secretive U-2 program, which suffered greatly during the crisis, and ultimately lead to the restriction of U-2 operations over the Soviet Union."

Powers was released 21 months later, in an organized exchange for a high-ranking KGB officer. The next crisis involving the Dragon Lady would be only two years later, when suspicions were mounting that the Soviet Union was building nuclear missile sights on Cuba.

"The Cuban Missile Crisis is remembered as one of the premier single incidents where U-2 imagery played an integral role in the president making a critical decision that would determine the fate of not only the nation, but also the world as well," Dr. Cross said. "At the time, military leaders were concerned that one false move by the president could lead to an all out nuclear war with the Soviet Union. Using imagery provided by the U-2, as well as other platforms, the president was able to make the informed decision that led to the de-escalation of the Cuban Missile Crisis."

The crisis was diverted, thanks in part to imagery of a missile site provided by the U-2.

The U-2 mission continues to evolve to meet the new requirements and challenges presented by the Global War on Terror. Equipment and sensor upgrades over the last 50 years have allowed the U-2 to improve its intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance capabilities.

"There is nothing else out there that can provide all the services , all the information and do all the things that the U-2 can," Dr. Cross said. "It's been around for a long time, but the adaptability of the U-2 has allowed it to continue to be at the forefront of providing information to the country, to our nation's leaders and to our military commanders."