Here’s another story about the SR-71 from Brian Shul (if you haven’t read the “Groundspeed Check” story, you must check it out as well). Brian Schul wrote this book about being an SR-71 pilot. Unfortunately, it’s out of print and is going for $250 bucks for a copy. It is, however recounted in multiple other books if you’re interested.

In April 1986, following an attack on American soldiers in a Berlin disco, President Reagan ordered the bombing of Muammar Qaddafi’s terrorist camps in Libya. My duty was to fly over Libya and take photos recording the damage our F-111′s had inflicted. Qaddafi had established a ‘line of death,’ a territorial marking across the Gulf of Sidra, swearing to shoot down any intruder that crossed the boundary. On the morning of April 15, I rocketed past the line at 2,125 mph. Read more …