William Thomas Larkins

Bill was a great aviation photographer and a valuable pen friend.
Above all I admired his domestic "mess" which for me was a proof of respect for things of the past! Ii hope his photo collection will never be trashed and passed onto a respectable library or aviation museum. RIP Bill

BEST RECOLLECTIONS OF A FANTASTIC AVIATION PHOTOGRAPHER WHOSE YEARLONG DEDICATION TO FIRST HAND QUALITY PHOTOS WILL NEVER BE FORGOTTEN.

I found your photos via Twitter and loved them, and always looked forward to updates. Your passion and hobby is why many aircraft have any sort of documentation these days. May you rest in peace, you earned it!

Bill Larkins is a giant in the aviation history world, and his legacy will loom large long after most of us are departed. His interest in sharing his passion spawned many a budding aviation enthusiast. His mentoring remains a driving force of the American Aviation Historical Society

I extend sincere condolences on the loss of Bill. He was a household name as I grew up. Bill corresponded with my father, fellow aviation photographer Jack McNulty of Hamilton, Ontario, Canada for many years. My father always enjoyed looking forward to news from Bill, always a gentleman. The obituary for Bill is really well written and as a journalist, I appreciate the comprehensive review and interesting details. I can certainly relate to the strong chemical smells associated with developing negatives that kept my father busy, just like Bill. The Celebration of Life will, I'm sure, be a grand occasion. I can't attend in person, but I'll be there in spirit. Bill's outstanding contributions to aviation played a part in my lifetime enthusiasm for aircraft and I've carried on as the current National Vice President of the Canadian Aviation Historical Society. On behalf of the Society, I extend best wishes for the Celebration of Life in honor of Bill's many achievements. Blue skies for Bill.

Firstly I must send my deep condolences to Bill's close friends and family during this sad time. I first got to know Bill in the early 2000s through the Cropdusters website. Being in the aviation publishing world we immediately clicked and Bill's enthusiasm and help was much appreciated by myself and my employers. I will miss the emails, as I was never privileged to meet Bill in person. Drifting in the clouds forever.

Bill was also a founding member of the Oakland Aviation Museum at OAK around 1985. The museum has been a joy to thousands of visitors over the years and we miss him very much. Frank Wilson OAM

Mary and Joan: Our sincere condolences. Your Father --- and Mother -- were long time good Friends. They gave a lot of them selves to our local heritage. Bill and I were especially close because of our association with the US Air Force. I will miss him. Jim and Gayle Serventi

Only meet 'Bill' a few times at AAHS events, but always thought of him as Mr. Aviation photo-man!

To echo what others have said, Bill was the most generous man with his time, his knowledge and his photographs. It must be almost 30 years since I first made contact with him, first by letter and later e-mail.
Bill very generously loaned me some of his beautiful, large B&W negatives (616 size?) for scanning.
I will always treasure our correspondence along with his photos and books.
An ocean and a continent apart, we never met but it was a delight and privilege to have known him and to call him a friend.
Thank you Bill.

Sincerest condolences for this very fine and gentle man. He was a significant inspiration to our group for the rebuilding of our Ford TriMotor, often using his book as our Bible. Thank you for the lengthy and detailed obituary. He will be missed.

Bill exemplified the ideal aviation historian and photographer - quality research and writing, almost an obsession to photograph aircraft and aviation events, and best of all the commitment to share his work and encourage other like-minded aviation enthusiasts. I was fortunate enough to benefit from these last two tenets of Bill philosophy. I have images in my mind of Bill standing on the roof of his early Ford coupe to get a better angle of an aircraft, spending two days photographing the 1,000+ surplus WWII aircraft stored at Ontario, CA and then renting a Piper Cub to photograph them from the air. I fondly recall sharing with Bill our excitement of discovering a very unique aircraft to shoot, of parking next to a fence in order to get a clear view of a plane on the airport side, of waiting for endless minutes for the sun to come out or of finding a significant photo or document in an archive, and sharing it with the aviation community. Bill will live on in his wonderful books, photos and inspiration that we will hopefully pass on to another generation. I´m very proud to be able to say I was a friend of Bill Larkins.

As a lifelong fan, and a photographer of, aviation in all its forms I was really sad to hear of Bill´s passing. It´s because of people like him and his pioneering spirit and wonderfully cheeky bravado towards keep out signs and fences that we do what we do, whether out and about ourselves or as one as a community. They showed us the way and we owe it to them to continue their legacy and preserve it if we can. Thank you Bill. We owe so much to you and your work. It says I can add a photo and I shall. A fine Convair Twin at full chat in your honour. RIP Mr Larkins and my condolences to your family.

Offering our deepest condolences during this difficult time.