Lockheed U-2 Carrier OPS Declassified

In early 1964 Bob Schumacher conducted a number of trial landings and take-offs from the USS Ranger and a number of other CIA pilots, including Jim Barnes, became carrier qualified. The target for the U-2G was the French nuclear test site, situated at Mururoa Atoll in the middle of the South Pacific, well out of the range of a land-based U-2. Consequently, in May 64 a U-2G operating from the USS Ranger photographed Mururoa Atoll and until 1968 three of the CIAs fleet of U-2s and a number of pilots were always carrier capable, although few actual sorties were ever flown.

Source.
http://www.spyflight.co.uk/u-2s.htm

Grimes said Soviets shot down more than 30 U.S. aircraft and 200 crewmembers during the Cold War.
http://www.beanerbanner.com/BB%202/RC-130%20Shoot%20Down.htm

Did you know that we occasionally flew armed reconnaissance missions and in some cases actually exchanged fire with the Soviets with the aircraft like the RB-47?
http://www.spyflight.co.uk/rb47.htm

http://www.b-29s-over-korea.com/John_S_Lappo/John_S_Lappo1.html

For more U-2 footage.
http://www.creativefission.com/Frame_Film_DVD_U2.html

Category:

Science & Technology

Tags:

• Lockheed
• U-2
• TR-1
• U-2R
• OPS
• SPEC
• Spy
• Plane
• Reconnaissance
• Clarence
• Kelly
• Johnson
• Skunk
• Works
• USS
• America
• CV-66
• Ranger
• CV-61

[leokimvideo]

absolutely amazing

[N21X]

Amazing! Neat stuff!!!

[sking0369]

It must have been extremly challenging coming in at such a shallow angle and onto a heaving carrier deck.

[BruceK10032]

That link on the RB-47s is extremely interesting. Thank you for that.

[spinkle2000]

It doesn't appear they used the catapult for takeoff? Not surprising since the U2 leaps into the air, but still pretty cool to see!

[pelagic6]

I wish there was sound, but awesome archive footage of an icon.

[Flybyhacker]

RARE footage >naver expect u-2 can land on carrier

but you know that C-130 also can land on carrier