The U-2 Dragon Lady, introduced in 1957, is a high-altitude reconnaissance aircraft crafted by Lockheed Martin for the USAF. Distinguished by its long wings and lightweight structure, it soars at altitudes of up to 70,000 feet, enabling vital intelligence-gathering missions. The U-2's legacy includes an innovative emphasis on minimizing radar cross-section, a precursor to stealth technology. Despite its vintage, the U-2 remains a pivotal asset, serving global intelligence agencies and leaving an indelible mark on the evolution of reconnaissance and stealth aircraft.

In 1963, the CIA started Project Whale Tale to develop carrier-based U-2Gs to overcome range limitations. During the development of the capability, CIA pilots took off and landed U-2Gs on the aircraft carrier Ranger and other ships. The U-2G was used only twice operationally. Both flights from Ranger occurred in May 1964 to observe France's development of an atomic bomb test range at Moruroa in French Polynesia.

This particular design carries the tail code "BB" representing Beale Air Force Base.