Swedish Viggen pilots awarded U.S. Air Medals for saving SR-71 in 1987

Four former Swedish Air Force Viggen pilots were awarded the U.S. Air Medals on Nov. 28 for their role in protecting a SR-71 that had an inflight engine failure on Jun. 29, 1987.

From left to right, Col. Lars-Erik Blad, Maj. Roger Moller, Maj. Krister Sjober, and Retired U.S. Air Force Lt. Col. Tom Veltri stand beside the official photo which depicts the event that earned the Swedish pilots their U.S. Air Medals in Stockholm, Sweden, Nov. 28, 2018. The Swedish Airmen risked their lives to save an SR-71 and the aircrew, Tom Veltri and Duane Noll, on June 29, 1987. (U.S. Air Force Photo by Senior Airman Kelly O’Connor)

The SR-71 was over the Baltic Sea when it had the emergency. The crew descended to twenty-five thousand feet over Swedish airspace where they were intercepted by two different pairs of Swedish air force Viggens. The four fighter pilots defended the aircraft from potential threats and escort it out to international airspace.

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