Richard Jolly Hudlow

RESTORER AND AUTHOR DIES

Whether it was USAF B-52 pilot in command during Strategic Air Command’s Cold War defense

of the USA, Director of International Sales at Rockwell Aircraft Co, Commander Division in

Oklahoma City, the leader of a Oklahoma Douglas A26 aircraft restoration in association with

the Commemorative Air Force (CAF), and finally author of his own book,” Shamrock 22: An

Aviator’s Story”, Richard J. Hudlow did it all.

He died in Oklahoma City Sunday, Nov 26, after a short illness. He was 92.

Born in McAlester, OK, Hudlow’s early years were spent on an airfield in Tulsa as the son of

Edward W. Hudlow, who was VP / General Manager of Spartan Aircraft Co. By four he had

time in the cockpit of a Ford Tri Motor, and by 10 he had experienced aerial aerobatics in a

Staggerwing with legendary pilot Eddie Ross among others who visited the Spartan factory.

As a youth, he followed his father to numerous locations around the US. Edward Hudlow was

one of the first Civil Aviation Board flight examiners in the US and later became chief of the

General Aviation Division of the CAA (now the FAA) based in Washington DC. In his obituary, in

the Washington Post in 1955, it said, “Fascination and aptitude for flying and aircraft were the

guideway of Mr. Hudlow’s life.” He was posthumously honored by the State of Oklahoma and is

inducted in the State’s Aviation Hall of Fame.

Richard Hudlow enjoyed the same passion for flying and in his lifetime accumulated 13,000

hours of flying time, 7000 hours in Boeing B-52s alone . Whether it be C-47s in Europe after

WWII and in the beginning of the Berlin airlift, Boeing B-52s in SAC’s Cold War defense

mission, the fleet of Rockwell Turbo Commanders, an experimental Rockwell Thrush

Agricultural aircraft certification in Poland or a CAF PT-19 open cockpit trainer, Hudlow enjoyed

flying them all and many more.

He also served in the Pentagon, did a tour in Vietnam as SAC Advanced Operations Chief and

later Vice Commander, 2nd Bomb Wing at Barksdale AFB Shreveport, LA. He was particularly

honored by his contemporaries in the Air Force for his superior abilities in aerial refueling which

became essential for SAC’s defensive missions in the arctic circle. It was then a new and still

very precise flying maneuver.

Col Hudlow retired from the USAF in 1972 and moved to Oklahoma City to work as Director of

International Sales Rockwell Aircraft, Commander Division located at Wiley Post Airport. The

company during this time sold many aircraft into Australia, Europe, Africa, Japan and Middle

East.

He then retired again, set up his own business, AVIAR Inc. to consult worldwide and do direct

support for various clients around the world.

He joined the OKC wing of the CAF and led a group of volunteers in restoring a Douglas A26

Invader bomber from the Korea and Vietnam era. The non-flyable aircraft was disassembled

and trucked to Oklahoma City from Pine Bluff, Arkansas in 1999. It was at Wiley Post Airport

until 2009 when the group moved it to Guthrie/Edmond Municipal Airport in March 2009. Two

months ago it was taxied out on to the runway with both engines running. It should be flying

soon.

Hudlow, then, longed to tell his story and that eventually became his book, Shamrock 22 ‘An

Aviator’s Story’ published by AuthorHouse and available on Amazon and in Barnes & Noble

bookstores.

In his book, Col. Hudlow describes his responsibility as pilot in command of a B-52 this way,

“During our crew days we were on the highest professional level. Responsibility was continuous

and heavy. Four 1.2 mega ton nuclear weapons, a crew of 5 other professionals, 6 wives and 17

children plus a fine Boeing airplane, holding nearly 35,000 gallons of jet fuel, all involved in the

defense of our country combine to give a man inspiration to do things right, and well. It was

serious business. Even so there were times of hilarity and humor, for which we are grateful.”

Col. Hudlow will be buried with honors at Arlington National Cemetery. He is survived by his

wife, Louise, two daughters, two grandsons and a great- grand daughter