Lt. Colonel William Burk Jr. recounts a high-speed mission over Lebanon in the SR-71 reconnaissance aircraft during the 1982 Israeli invasion.
Lt. Colonel William Burk Jr. piloted the SR-71, the world’s fastest jet-propelled aircraft, during a 1982 mission over Lebanon to provide photo coverage of regional terrorist bases. Ordered by President Reagan, the mission required the aircraft to navigate a complex route from England to Beirut and back, utilizing multiple refueling stops. During the flight, the aircraft faced active tracking from a Soviet SA-5 missile system in Syria. To ensure safety, the crew flew at Mach 3 plus at an altitude of 80,000 feet. After completing a pass over Beirut, the aircraft encountered a low-oil-pressure warning on one engine, prompting the crew to fly a direct route back to England. The return journey included a notable encounter with a French Mirage III. When the French pilot requested a diplomatic clearance number, Lt. Colonel William Burk Jr.’s Recon Systems Officer, Tom Henichek, jokingly provided "the bird" with a middle finger. The SR-71 then used its afterburners to leave the French jet behind.