Read the novel Skunkworks for a fantastic account of what the engineers had to overcome.
at the end of that they give Kelly Johnson a flypast and he is too far gone to realize what is going on. Ben Rich says "Kelly, they are saluting you !". That part made me tear up.
At the time they built this the motor industry could not even build a car with a clutch that lasted! How on earth did they build this out of Titanium? Is feels like progress has stopped or even reversed
If I were around in 1962 and looking at the first A-12, I’d almost believe the Roswell stories. After 50 years of “progress” not so sure about that.