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Wall of Honor Level:
Air and Space Friend

Honored by:
Col. Adelbert W. Carpenter

Paul F. Crickmore is the renowned aviation expert, photographer, and author of numerous books on famous aircraft such as the Lockheed Blackbirds A-12, SR-71, YF-12A and the M-12, the F-117 Stealth fighter and the classic McDonnell F-15 Eagle. His remarkable chronicling is recognized by the Blackbird community as the master documenter of the history, legacy and lore of these incredible programs.
During his 13 years at the London Air Traffic Control Centre, Paul gained his pilot's license and flew in KC-135 tankers refueling fighter and bomber aircraft. Flying has shown him the full spectrum, supersonic in a RAF Lightning, a four ship with the British Red Arrow team, DAC with F-16s, F-4s low over the Nevada desert, and C-130 transports. Rotor wing experience includes Blackhawks, HH-53s, Wessexs, Gazelles, Wasps, Lynx and Army Chinooks
In October 1981, he was granted a special security clearance to fly in a KC-135Q tanker during the operational refueling of an SR-71 Habu from RAF Mildenhall AB in the UK. This gave him a unique access into a world usually hidden from non-programme members. Since that flight; Paul has written many articles and 13 books about military aviation matters, but his first love is as the recognized author extraordinaire on the SR-71 and A-12.
The Blackbird community has fully embraced Paul and his works with Louis Schalk, pilot for the first A-12 flight and Bob Gilliland, pilot of the first SR-71flight and others writing forwards for his books. Numerous Blackbird designers, builders, flyers and maintainers have contributed to his knowledge base and participated in making his books the acknowledged reference books on these secretive program histories Paul is a British citizen living in the United Kingdom and continues to explore and document the Blackbird programs as more information is declassified and released.