Originally Posted by
HuggyU2
Well, Joe... what can I say?? **** happens! Wow... that was a long time ago.
So good to see your post here.
May I be the first (albeit a day early) to offer a toast to your dad.
To honor Capt. Joe Hyde and others of the 4080th Strategic Reconnaissance Wing please read some of their history at:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/4080th_...naissance_Wing
In the late 1950s the wing had two aircraft - the RB- 57D and the U-2. Many of the RB-57D pilots like "Red Dog" Campbell transitioned into the RB-57F at Kirtland AFB where he was my "ops officer." . They retained their friendships with the U-2 family and I have copies of correspondence between Red Dog and Pat Halloran regarding the RB-57F loss over the Black Sea in December on Dec 14, 1965.
I will drink a toast tonight to Red Dog, Joe Hyde, and the many other "pressure suit" flyers that have gone before us. There is a new book about to be published "Stratonauts" which will chronicle many of their accomplishments.