Construction of SR-71 (61-7970/Article 2021) began on 12 October 1965. Rollout took place on 18 July 1966. The aircraft made its first flight on 21 October 1966, piloted by Bill Weaver and Steven A. Belgeau of Lockheed. Following acceptance by the U.S. Air Force on 3 February 1967, the aircraft was assigned to the 9th Strategic Reconnaissance Wing at Beale AFB, California.

On 15 September 1968, Al Hichew and Tom Schmittou ferried 970 to OL-8 at Okinawa, Japan for operational deployment in support of the war in Southeast Asia. The airplane replaced another SR-71A (61-7974) that rotated back to Beale. Dale Shelton and Larry Boggess took 970 out for its first operational (Habu) mission from Kadena on 25 September. On its third operational flight, also piloted by Shelton and Boggess, 970 became the first and only SR-71 to be recalled due to enemy preparedness along the airplane's intended route.

The airplane was scheduled for a total of 17 HABU missions. Of these, only the one was recalled, one aborted on the ground, and one aborted in flight. It was also scheduled for 24 combat crew training missions (CCTM). Three of these were aborted on the ground and two were aborted in flight. Buddy Brown and Mort Jarvis accomplished a functional check flight on 11 March 1969 following a Phase Inspection. George bull and Red McNeer ferried 970 back to Beale on 22 April 1969.