I went to Google, searching for "John Lear" and found the exact text of the letter we read this week at:
http://www.fantasticforum.com/d29d/gallery/album70

I have to agree that the SR-71 story is a bit over the top, but not impossible.

I also went to snoops.com, "urban legends", and was unable to find anything about this story. I have contacted a bunch of people I know who should know about John Lear and if I learn anything, I will report to you.

I might add that I personally knew several of these people he mentions in his story, now gone West, and that would certainally stand up to his statement "One of the anguishes of advancing age is losing old friends. The upside of that, though, is that I get to tell the story my way."

Warm regards,

Gary

FXE (Fort Lauderdale Executive)
http://www.uslan.com/hinge-kit.html