U2 Ops in the 1960's

I always thought that Gary Powers was operating out of Peshawar, Afganistan until his overflight was terminated near Yekaterinburg, formerly Sverdlovsk.

Quite right…I believe his destination was in Norway.
In anyt event, U-2s operated from there…and a U-2 is preserved there as we learned in a recent issue of FlyPast (a brief ad for our sponsors…:D).

In his autobiography – Gary Powers confirmed that he took off from Peshawar,well written book btw…I really enjoyed it !!

http://www.amazon.co.uk/OPERATION-OVERFLIGHT-PILOT-TELLS-STORY/dp/0030830451/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1271883955&sr=1-3

Once again thanks to everyone has helped- the clip from ITV 1962 was the icing on the cake!. I got to know quite a few of the U2 pilots when i was on detachment at Akrotiri all nice guys. It was always an impressive sight watching the 0600 “olive Harvest ” launch. my one regret was not taking more photos! i did manage a few – they used to put chalk markings of snoopy on the tail and were pretty open the whole operation. The one thing we were not allowed to was make any mention on the radio of the U2- once an F4 driver was taxying out at 0600 and said “Giving way to the U2” as he got to the runway and the whole mission was aborted. I guess any one listening to the R/t could work out the U2 was airborne. The fact it took off EVERY day at 0600…..

The move to Mildenhall was partly touched on here http://forum.keypublishing.co.uk/showthread.php?t=55347&highlight=U2
… on reflection the date might be slightly later 1978 or 79; but the patch and pin info is still correct.

I also know the pilot’s ‘name’, but if I tell you that I’d have to shoot you!! :diablo:

I remember an 80’s display at Mildenhall where a hangar had been roped off (THe US Navy hangar I think). The toilets were behind the hangar and most people were taking a short cut through the roped area. The person in front of me stepped up on a bracket attached to the hangar door to look through a vent and as he stepped down calmly announced “there is a U2 in there”. He was quite right and there appeared to be a second damaged one with it as well. Within what seemed like seconds a queue had formed and each spotter was taking a turn to peer through the vent.
This attracted the attention of someone in a USAF uniform who shouted “hey you can’t look in there” to which someone replied “too late mate we already have”.
By the time I got back from the toilets the end of the hangar was surrounded by USAF personnel and no one got within 50 feet of it.
U2 ops from Mildenhall must have been one of the worst kept secrets of the 80’s.

All the sources I have ever seen refer to Peshawar as the operating base. Whether this has been deliberate disinformation by the CIA I suppose we will never know, not that it matters anymore.

Remember, Powers flew out of Norway (where I’m guessing the airfield was remote).

I always thought that Gary Powers was operating out of Peshawar, Afganistan until his overflight was terminated near Yekaterinburg, formerly Sverdlovsk.

It hardly seems to have been very secret!

Quite….
Perhaps the UK based AC were doing air samples…
Hard to fly a U-2 from a UK base without someone noticing (a lot of people on a small island, few really remote airfields).

Remember, Powers flew out of Norway (where I’m guessing the airfield was remote).
Judging by the interest spotters/photographers displayed in U-2 & SR-71 flights from Mildenhall in the 80s, it would have been hard to hide U-2 flights (at least in daylight).

Though I do have some anecdotal information of night F-117 flights from the UK before the program went public.

This might be of interest:
http://www.itnsource.com/compilations/businessmediaandtechnology/transport/?lr=S14040701
Scroll down to clip #34 and click ‘Download Preview’.

It hardly seems to have been very secret!

Graham – thanks for that, i believe this is what the forum is for looking at your website (excellent) i shall certainly order some so its all about passing information! – I do know the U2s based at UH were on “Air Sampling” missions to the North of Norway.

OK guys… I’ve held fire on this one in case I get accused of advertising again, but here goes.

In our ‘Airfield Focus 42: Upper Heyford Revisited’ author Peter Davis states: Following Soviet reports that Russia had exploded a 50-megaton atomic bomb, three WU-2s were hurriedly despatched to the UK from Laughlin,Texas and arrived at Upper Heyford on 19 August 1962 to carry out high altitude sampling missions over the North Atlantic.

How could the WU-2’s be hurriedly despatched in August 1962 when the only 50 megaton bomb exploded was the tsar bomba and that was detonated in October 1961??

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tsar_Bomba

curlyboy

hi,
whilst checking my paper logs,for any connections with the U2,s,i,ve got a note of i belive the 1st TR.1 visit at a Alconbury open house in late 70,s or early 80,s.Anyone have a reg for this? it was in a hanger under armed guard,so did,nt take too much noice…

regards
jack…

OK guys… I’ve held fire on this one in case I get accused of advertising again, but here goes.

In our ‘Airfield Focus 42: Upper Heyford Revisited’ author Peter Davis states: Following Soviet reports that Russia had exploded a 50-megaton atomic bomb, three WU-2s were hurriedly despatched to the UK from Laughlin,Texas and arrived at Upper Heyford on 19 August 1962 to carry out high altitude sampling missions over the North Atlantic. Such was the concern at the time that they did not leave until 19 November. In October, the Cuban missile crisis brought the world closer to Armageddon than at any other time during the ‘cold war’. The US imposed a blockade on Cuba and on 24 October the US Navy sailed towards the island to implement it.

Really grateful for the info so far esp the pic taken at wethersfield- very nice. Yes some of the RAF “exchange” pilots are still about- i know three all ex Lightning/F4 Pilots. Still hoping someone can shed some light on the Upper Heyford Det in Oct 1962. SF

“50 years of the U-2” by Chris Pocock..all you need to know about the Dragon Lady.
Exhaustive in all aspects.

The 2 tone grey colour scheme (Sabre Scheme) was insisted upon by the UK Government, concerned about the implications of “black” ops being carried out by U-2s. The TR1 was so designated for similar reasons..to dissociate the aircraft from its dodgy predecessors.

I wonder if any of the RAF pilots who flew ( and survived) the U2 are still around?

IIRC(but I could be wrong) the consensus was that there had been covert ops originating from the UK using U-2s in the late 50s/early 60s.

Not necessarily…during that time frame, the U-2s involved with the Cuban missile crisis were USAF ac with USAF crews.

Also, I’ve read where they 70s-80s colours as seen above, were brought about by the UK government to downplay any impression the UK based U-2s were being used as “spy” aircraft.
Any truth to it? Anyone have any details?

Did someone mention Wethersfield 1975?

It’s 50 years ago and the Cold war has been over for 20 years – is it that sensitive?

Thanks for all the info- yes i had seen that site. However…I know for a fact that they were in the UK in OCT 1962 ( sadly i cant reveal my source at the moment) and i know they were at Upper Heyford but i need a bit of back up!!

That spyflight website comprehensively answers the question originally posed, I think. Very interesting.