The U-2

[Deleted]

This aircraft has always fascinated me - half powered aircraft, half glider. Shot down over the USSR at the height of the Cold War, pilot Gary Powers was the subject of a show trial while the world watched, unable to to do anything. Powers spent two years in a Soviet jail. en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gary_Powers
When I was forcibly moved to the south of England many years ago, I considered living near Alconbury (where the U-2s were based at the time), but eventually decided against it. However, we got to know the times when the U-2 would be launched (there is no other word for it), so we arranged to be at the end of the runway very early one morning.
The whole launch and retrieval procedure was difficult. The results, plus some photos taken in the early morning at Alconbury and at Mildenhall open days are shown below:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=eamnTyfkUBY

[Beemer]

I remember in the early eighties seeing a white two seater trainer at Alconbury but no photo to confirm it. Regards Beemer.

[Deleted]

Aug 16, 2010 20:10:53 GMT 1 Beemer said:

I remember in the early eighties seeing a white two seater trainer at Alconbury but no photo to confirm it. Regards Beemer.

Yes, we heard about that one, but it had gone by the time we were living in the area. I believe it went to Incirlik in Turkey.

[gwoof]

Fairly certain 80-1065 was the white TR-1B - I saw it during March 1984.

Couple of aircraft shot during a changeover the other year at Fairford.

[Biggles]

I mentiond this on the old forum but can`t find the link, I recalled picking up an atc call from a USAF callsign some years back, asking London for clearance to descend over London from Fl.Lv 850, the call caused the airways controller to nearly choke and asked the pilot to confirm it was Fl.lv 850 and not 8500` The c/s replied it was fL.Lv850 and he was on the wrong frequency. The c/s was allocated to a U2

[satcom]

They usually use the callsign Dragon and always [ at least these days ] refer to their altitude as "Above FL six zero zero "

Their Mode C never goes above 600 AFAIK and they are often tracked when coming into the UK on rotation....in fact I have a feeling there's a rotation due very shortly.

[copperbob]

Morning all, my first post, but long time viewer!

I was based at RAF Akrotiri for 3 years in the early 80's in my 13 years in the "mob" I worked next to the U2 hangar and heard/saw it take off every morning, with the returning a/c in the afternoon/eve usually not being the same. I took a few pics in my days there (but if developed locally they were strangely removed!!) The USAF guys who worked there were known as "olive harvest" and of course, didn't exist! and were mostly long haired, stetson wearing heavy drinkers (my many nights in there bar testifies to this) A great bunch of guys who loved their job, and having watched them chasing the landing U2 down the runway to attach the jockey wheels in there 4 x 4's was a sight to see. and the pilot (who always dissapeared quickly) get out in his a/c in his NASA spacesuit always looked good. A great a/c to watch take off and the steepness of its ascent always amazed me. still have to reg's somewhere but I do recall the Akrotiri based one in early 80-81 was 10332 (I think)

[Deleted]

Didn't some of them carry fictitious serials when on CIA/sneaky beaky ops?

GC

[Beemer]

Gwoof, just looked at my logs and can confirm that the white trainer was 80-1065 U2RT. Regards Beemer.

[Deleted]

I remember that there was a U2 based at Mildenhall in the 80's I remember seeing one come out of a hangar, taxy and take off on a sortie during one of my visit's. I have seen 4 in the past. Also U2 the Irish Rock Band took their name from this aircraft.

Bob

[gwoof]

OK anorak on I guess ;D

Beemer - IIRC the designation U-2RT didn't come in to play until after the TR-1A/Bs had been redesignated U-2R in 1992. Also did you ever catch the white NASA ER-2 that visited at some point - can't find it in my notes!

Silverback - seem to remember that they were prone to serial swapping even in the early '80s

BBJBEFC-Living The Dream - between Mildenhall, Alconbury, Fairford and various locations in the 'States caught around 40 U-2 variants!!

Satcom - think nearly all the ones that have been through fairford in recent years have been Dragons ;D

Anorak off - Ian

[Deleted]

Thanks for the update Ian

Bob

[Biggles]

"Also U2 the Irish Rock Band took their name from this aircraft."

I bet Bono wont admit to that not so green/pc fact.