Friends of aviation photographer and historian William T. Larkins are scheduled to honor him at a memorial service in Pleasant Hill, California.
Bill Larkins died on Sept. 9, 2021. Due to COVID, his family held a small private funeral, postponing the larger memorial tribute until March 20, 2022, just two days before what would have been his 100th birthday.
Bill Larkins was one of the posse of enthusiastic aviation photographers who shared negatives with each other beginning in the 1930s.
My introduction to his work came in the form of stellar historical aircraft negatives taken by Larkins in the collection of Peter M. Bowers, another participant in that early-day photo-sharing community, and the creator of the original Of Wings & Things column.
Bill, known for his dedication to aviation history and photography, was a founding member of the American Aviation Historical Society.
One of his stellar accomplishments was a series of photographs he took in the vast Army Air Forces boneyard at Kingman, Arizona, after World War II. Those photos have illustrated books and magazine articles by many authors ever since, and provide a tantalizing and poignant look at the end of the line for so many warplanes.
He was also a pioneer in chronicling the history and development of aerial firefighting aircraft.
You can read Bill’s full obituary at Legacy.com.
I met Bill in 2012 at Buchanan Field in Concord (about 30 mi northeast of San Francisco, California) while volunteering as a crew member for the Collings Foundation Wings of Freedom Tour. Bill (also my dad’s name) lived very near, and had recently lost his wife, I didn’t know who he was when I began to chat with him, but I had wished in a way we weren’t so busy, so we could talk longer.
In 2012 I began corresponding with Bill about aviation; not only aircraft but related history, airports, landing strips, pilots, et al.
We talked about our Flickr aviation photostreams (This is Bill’s https://www.flickr.com/photos/34076827@N00/ ) I’ll never forget his reply when I praised his photography: “Thanks for the link to your Flickr website. What superb photography! You do a much better job than me because I am still in the recording mode started way back in the early 1930’s by the IAAPE. ”
Such an interesting and kind man. As he advanced in the effects of age his family (rightfully) limited those who talked with Bill to just a few people. Thanks to my Flickr friend Ian (a family friend) who let me know this.
Rest In Peace Bill Larkins.