Found in 5 comments on Hacker News
mmaunder · 2021-02-24 · Original thread
For more detail on how effective Skunkworks was, read Kelly Johnson's book. It was recommended to me by a buddy at JPL and it's a wonderful view into how they did things on time and below budget on projects like the SR71.

Not an affiliate link: https://www.amazon.com/Kelly-More-Than-Share-All/dp/08747449...

WalterBright · 2018-10-30 · Original thread
That's a great read. There's also "Kelly":

https://www.amazon.com/Kelly-More-Than-Share-All/dp/08747449...

mercwear · 2018-08-02 · Original thread
This article mentions Clarence "Kelly" Johnson. If you don't know who he is and care to learn more about one of the best engineers that ever lived (SR-71 is his work), check out his book: https://www.amazon.com/Kelly-More-Than-Share-All/dp/08747449...

His second in command at Lockheed, a man named Ben Rich also wrote a very good book: https://www.amazon.com/Skunk-Works-Personal-Memoir-Lockheed/...

marze · 2010-06-19 · Original thread
That book is by Johnson's protege and successor, this one is by Kelly himself:

http://www.amazon.com/Kelly-More-Than-Share-All/dp/087474491...

Both are amazing stories.

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