An SR-71 Blackbird’s Collision with a KC-135 Stratotanker
By Lynn R. Blamires "Quadman"
Stories about military aircraft
Stories about military aircraft have always been a favorite pastime of mine. When I was a teenager, I loved reading stories about fighter pilots and aerial dogfights. In researching stories about the KC-135 Stratotanker, I came across one that piqued my interest. The incident is related by Tom Demerly of the 171st Refueling Squadron stationed at the Selfridge Air National Guard Base in Michigan.
A KC-135Q was refueling an SR-71 Blackbird over Texas
It was early Wednesday morning, June 17, 1970, during a refueling operation high above Texas, as SR-71 Blackbird pilot Maj. Buddy Brown slid his aircraft off the first KC-135Q Stratotanker’s fueling boom, he told his backseat Reconnaissance Systems Officer, Maj. Matt Jarvis, how smooth the air was at 26,000 feet. The special “Q” variant of the KC-135 used segregated fuel tanks to accommodate the SR-71’s unique, low-volatility JP-7 fuel and its own conventional JP-5.
Tremors before the calamity
The Blackbird moved to another KC-135Q for a final top off before continuing on a classified mission to test high-powered jamming equipment over the Gulf of Mexico. Maj. Brown relates what happened next, “I moved to pre-contact position behind [KC-135Q] number two, reset my refueling system for contact, and called that I was ready to refuel.” Almost immediately, subtle tremors foreshadowed calamity.
Suddenly, there was a “bump”
Maj. Brown said his aircraft hit, “Sort of a bump, and shook as if it had just flown through turbulent air”. He briefly queried Maj. Matt Jarvis in the back seat of the Blackbird, “Did you feel that?” Suddenly, the nose of the Blackbird pitched downward and then upward farther and more violently.
The Blackbird slammed into the tanker
Maj. Brown shoved the control stick forward, but aerodynamics had taken over. At low aerial refueling speeds, the control surfaces on the big SR-71, designed for speeds of Mach 3, had less purchase. The Blackbird slammed into the bottom of the KC-135Q.
The Blackbird’s nose sheared off
In an instant, the nose of the SR-71 sheared off in a grinding midair collision. Maj. Brown’s canopy and forward cockpit, including his instrument panel, disintegrated and caved inward from the impact with the KC-135Q. Both his legs were shattered. The tanker’s boom was heavily damaged and wrenched into the fully extended position.
The Blackbird spiraled to earth, but the KC-135 continued to fly
Boeing had built an exceptionally durable aircraft in the KC-135, and it continued to fly despite damage to the area of impact below the tail and a stuck refueling boom. Below the battered Stratotanker, the SR-71 was disintegrating on its last trip to earth. Both crewmembers managed to eject and survive, albeit with a pair of broken legs for Brown, who went on to recover from his injuries.
Boeing had designed an exceptional aircraft
Battered but still flying, the KC-135Q and its crew limped back to Beale AFB in California, a nearly 1,000-mile flight. The crew was unsure if they could land, but performed an in-flight controllability check along with a trial approach at landing speed. She had taken a serious tail strike from the SR-71 that didn’t survive the collision and still performed a safe landing at Beale AFB near Marysville, California. While one plane was damaged and one was lost, all crew members lived to tell the story.
Discover Utah Like Never Before — Subscribe FREE Today!
MY LOCAL UTAH is a locally owned platform committed to economic resilience, supporting local businesses and communities, and elevating the places and people that make our state remarkable. Whether you’re a lifelong resident or new to the Beehive State, we bring you closer to Utah’s heartbeat — the mom-and-pop shops, community events, hidden eateries, outdoor escapes, and small businesses that shape our everyday life.
Support local. Stay in the know. Live the Utah lifestyle.
When you subscribe for free, you’ll get first access to exclusive interviews, behind-the-scenes stories, seasonal events, curated itineraries, foodie features, and insider tips to help you explore Utah with purpose — while strengthening our local economy.
Be part of something meaningful.
Join the MY LOCAL UTAH community today because you uplift all of us when you support locals.
Subscribe now — it’s free!
Let’s build stronger communities, one story at a time.
Share the adventure!
