I feel like Col. Watson could talk for at least another hour on these topics and never get boring.

I’ve listened to a lot of SR-71 crew interviews - some are extroverts, some are very technical, others are self-effacing. But, no matter what creed or colour, all are extraordinary gentlemen.

You just know that guys like Col. Watson has got SO much more to tell, and yet he has to hold it back. What he can’t talk about fascinates me more and more. He is one of those guys you look up to, and thank for his knowledge, skills and service.

Col. Watson is an amazing person. Brian described him as the brains of the operation, with all the stuff he was dealing with in the back. The pilot had to be top notch, but the RSO was amazing because they knew the front cockpit as well as theirs, which changed with each mission. You could have the best pilot in the world up front, but if your RSO couldn't perform you couldn't do the mission. It took both, working in tandem, with the RSO coordinating the intelligence gathering and defense of the aircraft.

Walter and Brian are 2 new heroes that I get to study and research. Thank Col. Watson for your service!

I see 6.8k people who viewed this video and only 226 liked it before me. Such a shame. This Man has achieved a place that few have even thought of. Yes, Brian Shul puts on a great show, but Walter Watson's stories tie it all together.

What a great and Humble patriot, thank you Sir !

I would love to hear Walter tell the “LA speed check” story.

Nothing short of brilliant! Loved listening to Walter.

VERY inspirational....we need MANY more like him.

I'm in my early 40s. As a child, I always wanted to be a pilot. When I was 17, I signed up for the Reserves and found out I was "colourblind" and was told I could never fly. I saw one of Col. Watson's video's a couple of years ago and found out about the alternate test. I did some research and was able to do that test and I passed it! So I've gone for my Category 1 Aviation Medical exam. Fingers crossed, I may still get my wings. My fascination with the SR-71 brought me to Brian Shul, which introduced me to Walter Watson, who talked about flying my dream plane AND being "colourblind", and how to overcome this obstacle. Life has a way of connecting the dots! Thank you Col. Walter Watson! You restored my hope to realise a lifelong goal.

This was absolutely wonderful. The SR-71 a beautiful aircraft flown by a beautiful eloquent man.

Love Col. Watson Jr. and his pilot Brian Shul! They have such interesting stories, and are the perfect team! I never get enough of either one of them! I can never get enough of their stories! Thank you for posting!!!

Quite possibly the coolest plane ever!

Great interview! Thank you! Brian was the driver and I wondered how great the spy was ... Now I know he was great.

These oral histories deserve to be captured and preserved. I could listen all day to Col. Watson. Living fairly close to Mildenhall and going to the air shows as a school boy in the 1980s, I was in total awe of the Blackbird and the men that flew them. Hopefully before too long I'll get a chance to visit Udvar-Hazy again.

Brian Shul talks with great respect about Walter. They are obviously close friend. I am reading “Sled Driver”, I was lucky enough to find a copy. It is a totally fascinating book. What these guys went through as a crew was just amazing. It is my opinion that Walter kept Brian calm. Both are compelling speakers. An interesting point is the one aircraft that was happy near 60000 ft was Concorde. At the end of its cruise it was often near 58000 to 59000 ft. Holding Mach 2. 100 passengers in relative although a little tight comfort drinking Champagne & eating the very best food. Both these aircraft were developed at a similar time. The RAF tried to catch Concorde with Lightnings, they just didn’t have the range with Concorde flying at Mach 2.

I love hearing these SR pilots share their life changing and amazing experiences.

Thank you so much for this with Col. Watson. I was a SR-71 maintainer in the 1970's. 🙂

God Bless you sir. And your service. Great Americans are becoming harder to find. But nothing could be needed more.

Thank you Black birds for keeping the peace. This was absolutely incredible to watch and listen,thank you Walter Watson, I learned allot from you sir, and could listen for hours to your stories. 🇺🇲

Legend, Top Man, and yet so humble, awesome listening to him!

I would love to meet this man. What a hero.

Thank You colonel Watson for your time, dedication & commitment to our safety, and for your brilliant explanations of this plane and its demands.

Thanks for sharing! I thoroughly enjoyed watching the SR doing touch and goes at Kadena when TDY there for a month many moons ago. Got to see one broken down at Mountain Home AFB leaking fuel all over the ramp as we taxied in. I still love the old SR-71 joke between Oakland Center (well, one of the centers) and an Aspen aircraft requesting FL650. Oakland, reportedly responded, “you’re cleared to FL650, if you can make it.” Aspen (the SR call sign) replied, “departing FL850 for FL650…”. The Oakland controller was a new guy and didn’t recognize the Aspen call sign yet.

Someone like Colonel Watson is a true role model. Unlike the nonsense so many young people are inspired by today. That was very good presentation from Colonel Walter Watson the one and only black man to be part of a profound program. His knowledge and skill is inspiring and noteworthy. He has fascinating story about his time in the Air Force and the flying of numerous aircraft. His stories about the SR-71 program were quite interesting.

I am honored that men like Col. Watson were up there in the sky making sure My family and I are free. God bless and thank you.

Thanks for sharing such an inspiring story of overcoming challenges to make history. God bless you for staying strong with your passion on flying airplanes. Keep the speeches going to inspire this generation and the next one as well.

great interview, really enjoyed this. Walt is a great american, glad to hear him speak.

Amazing interview. Thanks for the video and especially to Walter Watson!!!

What an interesting life the Col had. Thank you for your service.

Met Brian and his wife at Reno 'round 2010. Signed my book I bought (The Untouchables) and invited my wife and I inside under his pop-up (hot day!) and offered us both coke's! Had a great time talking with them about flying, photography, and athletics! What a thrill!!! Would love someday to meet Col. Watson!

Beautiful man and story

Excellent interview. Thanks for posting!

I absolutely died laughing at the 31:00 mark when Walter said "this guy is already burned up".🤣 It's amazing how someone like yourself can have such a serious role and still have a sense of humor.I salute you and thank you for opening the doors to other African African Americans and it is truly amazing how you were able to overcome so many personal hurdles and you were able to fly and operate this magnificent plane.

So much respect for this fine intelligent man.. god bless you sir

An immense thanks, from the bottom of our hearts, to major Shul and colonel Watson and all those who dedicated their lives to counteract the oppressors and contribute to support helpless and necessitous.

Love they way he explains how things happened and worked, super clear and calm. Amazing person!

While working at an "aerospace" facility I ran into a situation that until now was a "story".... from now on it shall be simply a "Walter" moment. Thank You.

THANKS FOR YOUR SERVICE, LOYALTY, COURAGE AND PATRIOTISM.., GOD BLESS YOU Sr.

Wow what an amazing man, amazing career and amazing achievement! I could listen to him all day!

Thank you from Singapore.

Totally cool....of the dozens of times I listened to Shull telling the LA Speed Check story, race was never mentioned.

Great job Walter!

What a great guy. Could listen to him sharing his experience for hours. The " He's already burned " was hallarious ! Ex. IAF Structural technician / Airframe fitter. (serviced F-4E Kurnass)

It doesn't get any better than that. Thank You for your short story

What an American!! What a great history and story. Thank you for your service.

That has to be the most epic intro in the history of film. You guys are the best lmao

Very interesting to hear Mr Watson about his experience !!! Thank you for sharing it !!

A fresh way to tell the story. I really enjoyed this. Thank you. 💘

You, Sir, are inspirational! Great work, and God Speed!

A great American hero for sure Thank you for your service!

I absolutely enjoyed this interview with Col Watson...also watch Brian Shul's "From Butterflies to Blackbirds" session. I was a child on Okinawa in the early 70s and I recall the SR-71 (who wouldn't!). I can now connect Watson/Shul with the experience. AWESOME!

Great interview. It would be awesome to have Walter and Brian in the same room giving a presentation together.

When I was a kid in SW Wyoming I heard this things sonic boom every few days, could look up and see a contrail go across the sky in like 45 seconds. It scared me to death th first time I experienced this! This was in the early 80’s. Right on man!

Im thinking when I sit down in a Black Barber Shop Im going to tell them about the History of Walter Watson, and that Response about when he had taken off his Helmet and they said look that guy got burnt 😂😂 but its a Beautiful thing to be able to tell the story about his Journey and Mission in the SR71 Blackbird, Thank you for your Service Walter Watson

I know exactly how Walter Felt with that patch. I have amblyopia...diagnosed at 5 years old..I'm 53 now. Not fun as a 5 year old in the 70s, like Walter...KIDS ARE MEAN. I too had reading issues and they thought I was dyslexic as well...By 6th grade I was reading high school level, working math at a high school level, and more. Like Walter said...you have to work to overcome it. He had it tougher for sure...

I really enjoyed listening to Walter Watson! He put things in terms that you can really understand. I am working on my communication skills right now and really enjoyed his take on communicating with his Pilot over the intercom.

Thank You, Col.!

Thanks Walter

I met Major Shul at the beginning of my USAF service, in 1987. I wish I could meet Colonel Watson.

A great interview, it takes an exceptional man to fly the SR-71, thanks for the video.

I found that utterly fascinating. I don’t know how KZfaq took me here after I fell asleep watching an air disaster video, but I’m glad it did. I honestly thought Concorde was the ultimate in supersonic flight at that time. Of course we always had fighter jets (usually in pairs) that came roaring overhead and quite often they’d break the sound barrier, but they were normally flying low, to practice getting under radar. I had no idea these planes existed! What an eye opener. 😳

This guy knows a lot about the SR-71, and butterscotch pudding!

Great inspiration for the next generations! Congratulations and Respect! From Brasil.

God Bless You Sir!!!!

Timeless design!!!

Thank You so much! Amazing

Thank you for sharing this

So he is "The Twelve Year Old" who went for the mike button in "L A Speed Check". I am BLACK and am proud to know some of his story.

Fascinating and engaging speaker, thanks for another great upload.

"Adjust his behavior" damn they don't make'em like this anymore.

Outstanding....

Great episode for getting done!

What a fantastic crew 👍

WOW! What a guy.

Col. Watson is a national treasure 🪙

Outstanding. Wow....

Thank you sir great story great story that is one of my all- time favorite the Blackbird. Also thank you for serving in the military. I too wanted to join the airforce because I love speed and flying. but now I get to drive my Corvette ZR1 and pretend. LOL

tHIS MAN IS A HUMBLE DECENT HUMAN BEING , YOU CAN TELL HOW BRILLIANT MIND IS IN HIM, REMINDED ME OF DOCTOR NORMAN R. BERGRUN (RIP) WHO WROTE A BOOK CALLED RINGMAKERS OF SATURN, He did a conference showing hos those enormous cylindrical objects built not only the rings of Saturn, but everything we see with our own eyes, these objects are GOD's Tools of CREATION

What a true great American.

How cool is this!! Love it.

Inspiring. Thanks

Great story!

I want to go see the Blackbird in person. Interesting was the fact that the pilots had to be married. Then they would be less likely to defect and land the Blackbird in Russia!

It can't help not to go fast, it's all engine 😎

As a white protestant I was reduced to tears hearing this dissertation. He is a true hero. I would truly welcome he and his family at my table.

Inspiring

That they hear his side of the LA speed check that Brian tells

Still the best airplane ever made

GREAT MAN - GREAT AMERICAN !!

Awesome story!

Great guy

like it my friend

Vantastic

It can rip the rooves off of your houses and tear them down in one pass without any ammo.

so cool

Just imagine having him as a Grandfather oh the stories

Imagine what an achievement it was back then being black in America and selected for the SR-71 program

Interviewer fails to ask for details of interesting stories Walter starts... dismisses and changes subject