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Richard
H. Graham, Col., USAF (Ret.) |
| Colonel
(ret) Richard Graham was
born August 19, 1942 in New Castle, Pa. He graduated from the
University of Akron, Akron, Ohio, in 1964 and received a master's
degree in sociology in 1977 and in Public Administration in
1979 from Pepperdine University, Los Angeles, California. He
graduated from Air War College in residence in 1982. |
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receiving his commission from AFROTC he entered pilot training
at Craig AFB, Alabama. In 1965 he graduated from pilot training
and remained at Craig AFB as a T-37 instructor pilot and flight
examiner. In August 1970 he was assigned to Davis-Monthan AFB,
Arizona, to begin F-4 training. Upon completion of his training
he was assigned to the 555th Tactical Fighter Squadron ("Triple
Nickel") at Udorn RTAFB, Thailand from March 1971 to March 1972.
During that time he flew 145 combat missions over North Vietnam
and Laos in the F-4C/D aircraft. In April 1972 he was assigned
to the 44th Tactical Fighter Squadron at Kadena AFB, Okinawa,
Japan, flying F-4D aircraft. Four months later he volunteered
for, and joined, the 67th Tactical Fighter Squadron as an F-4C
"Wild Weasel" pilot. In September 1972, until February 1973,
Colonel Graham was deployed with his squadron to Korat RTAFB,
Thailand, to augment F-105 "Wild Weasel" aircraft. At Korat
he flew 60 combat missions, suppressing enemy surface-to-air
missile sites in North Vietnam. During Christmas 1972 he participated
in six Linebacker II sorties over Hanoi. In March 1973 his squadron
joined the 17th Tactical Fighter Wing deployed to CCK Air Base,
Taiwan. He departed Kadena as the F-4 Standardization/Evaluation
Branch Chief. |
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| Colonel
Graham was selected to enter
the SR-71 strategic reconnaissance program in 1974 at
Beale AFB, California. After several years as a crew member,
he was further selected to become an instructor pilot,
and in 1978 was selected as the Chief, Standardization
/ Evaluation Division, which included the SR-71, U-2 and
T-38 aircraft. In January 1980 he was selected to be the
SR-71 Squadron Commander, 1st Strategic Reconnaissance
Squadron, where he served until his assignment to Air
War College, Maxwell AFB, Alabama in 1981. |
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| Following
Air War College in June of 1982, he was assigned to the Headquarters
USAF (Pentagon) to work in Programs and Resources as a strategic
force programmer. In April 1984, he was selected to work in
the Office of the Assistant Secretary of the Air Force for Manpower,
Reserve Affairs and Installations. As the Director of Program
Integration, he worked Air Force budgetary matters closely with
the Office of the Secretary of Defense, the Joint Chiefs of
Staff and the Air Staff. |
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In
June of 1986 Colonel Graham
was selected to be the Vice Wing
Commander, 9th Strategic Reconnaissance Wing (SRW), Beale
AFB, California. In that capacity, he was able to fly
all of the wing's aircraft: the U-2, T-38, KC-135Q, and
SR-71. In June of 1987 he was selected to become the Wing
Commander of the 9th SRW, where he remained until November
1988. As the Wing Commander, he was responsible for 10,000
personnel and their dependents on base, over 85 Air Force
aircraft deployed around the globe, and a base of 22,000
acres in northern California. He was assigned to the 14th
Air Division, Beale AFB, until he retired on 30 September
1989. |
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| Colonel
Graham was
a command pilot with more than 4,600 military flying hours.
His military decorations and awards include the Legion of Merit,
Distinguished Flying Cross with three oak leaf clusters, Air
Medal with 18 oak leaf clusters, Air Force Commendation Medal,
Air Force Outstanding Unit Award wtih "V" device and one oak
leaf cluster, Air Force Organizational Excellence Award, Combat
Readiness Medal with one oak leaf cluster, National Defense
Service Medal, Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal, Vietnam Service
Medal with four service stars, Republic of Vietnam Gallantry
Cross with palm, and the Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal.
Upon retirement he joined American Airlines in Dallas, Texas,
where he retired as a Captain on the MD-80 aircraft and with
over 6,000 flying hours. His wife's name is Pat and they have
five children and three grandchildren. His books,
"SR-71 Revealed: The Inside Story" and
"SR-71
Blackbird: Stories, Tales, and Legends"
allow
you to experience the SR-71 and the world of Habus as never
before.
A veteran of 15 years of assignments within the SR-71 community,
he is uniquely qualified to tell their story. Col.
Graham frequently speaks about
the SR-71 program at aviation events across the United States. |
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