Aviation enthusiast oldest person to receive U-2 high-flight

  • Published
  • By Tech. Sgt. Luke Johnson
  • 9th RW Public Affairs
BEALE AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. --  December 2009, an Aero L-39 Albatros, a high-performance jet trainer aircraft painted in Russian colors, complemented with a Russian Star, touched down at Beale Air Force Base. During the Cold War, the aircraft was used to train former Warsaw Pact fighter pilots.

The purpose of the landing was not to practice jet training or to show off the aircraft. The pilot, Mr. Oliver "Ollie" Crawford, was to receive the chance of a lifetime; a high-flight in the U-2 Dragon Lady. And being in his 80s, he would be the oldest person to receive the rare opportunity.

Mr. Crawford is a former World War II Army Air Corps pilot with many hours of flight in various military and civilian aircraft, and is also involved in many civic activities in his residence of San Antonio that support the military. He arrived at Beale ready to learn the ropes of the Dragon Lady.

"The training was most impressive," Mr. Crawford said. "Starting with getting to know the pressure suit, how it's made, the purpose of wearing one and its many parts, including helmet and how all of all of it operates together."

The most interesting part of the training for the seasoned aviator was experiencing the decompression chamber at Beale.

"Although I had been in a decompression chamber many years ago, the one at Beale was much more sophisticated than the previous ones I experienced," Mr. Crawford said.

He was also impressed with the professionalism of each Airman who prepared him for the flight.

"The Air Force personnel (who) I worked with were the most professional I met, not only with the decompression chamber, but those involved with the emergency procedures -- both ejecting and parachute procedures and landing," he said.

According to Mr. Crawford, the U-2 seemed to fly like most aircraft he has been in, and he compares flying in the aircraft to that of flying a sail plane and gliders except with more high-tech gadgets.

"Being above 60,000 feet was an experience in itself," he said. "The highest I had ever been was 45,000 feet in a Navy F9F Panther, but I may have exceeded that height in a Gulf Stream a few years ago, going to and from Washington during the construction phase of the Air Force Memorial."

Even though Mr. Crawford received the rare opportunity to receive a high-flight in a U-2, his fondest memories of the experience were meeting the Airmen at Beale.

"It is very difficult to put into words my best memory of my experience at Beale." Mr. Crawford said. "The flight itself was very exciting, but meeting and knowing the men and women who are part of the Air Force team reaffirms my faith in the future of our Air Force and our great country."