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Heading northeast over “The Wash” in Norfolk, UK on an early morning sortie in late 1984, Detachment 4’s SR-71 provided NATO and US Command authorities vial information on the Soviet North Fleet and other operations during the height of the Cold War.  Cruising out to an assigned track over the Baltic Sea the SR-71 was able to capture data far inland from an international-neutral off-shore position.  The Launch and departure of the “Sled” was never a secret; due to its rocket-like signature, no chicken or human could remain asleep in East Anglia for these missions.