Bearcat Accident in Breckenridge, 4/4/12

[Steve S]

Please lets keep speculation to a minimum, we will have more information soon. Lets not let this thread degenerate into WAGs and blame throwing.

Thanks and couldnt agree more Scott- at this point we cant change what happend and it is pointless to dwell or speculate- the only thing that is important is that we remember Howard for his great contributions to the warbird movment and to all of those whose lives he touched.

I hope that through all of this his family and close friends including those at Ezell are doing okay and holding up well.

No matter how many times we see this happen it never gets any easier.

[Django]

Godspeed sir.

I never met him, but I have a photo taken at my first airshow in the late '70s of this Bearcat hanging up in my garage.

[gary1954]

God Speed
I just took the poster of Mr Pardue and his Corsair down from my old bedroom at my parents' place.
I have no other words.

Put it back up man, when someone asks who is Howard Pardue? tell them, the man lives on though the memories.

[gary1954]

Please lets keep speculation to a minimum, we will have more information soon. Lets not let this thread degenerate into WAGs and blame throwing.

Thanks and couldnt agree more Scott- at this point we cant change what happend and it is pointless to dwell or speculate- the only thing that is important is that we remember Howard for his great contributions to the warbird movment and to all of those whose lives he touched.

I hope that through all of this his family and close friends including those at Ezell are doing okay and holding up well.

No matter how many times we see this happen it never gets any easier.

Interesting....I read every page and didn't see anything reading like speculation...maybe its just me(but I reserve comment(s) until the investigation is completed and released),...but for the record, thanks for putting your foot on the brake of that Bus Scott.

[CAPFlyer]

FAA Preliminary posted, nothing more than what we already know. No report reference yet either, so we'll just have to watch the NTSB site for when they put up theirs.

[oscardeuce]

Found some 1/32 scale decals of Howard's plane.

http://www.drawdecal.com/store/index.ph ... t_id=31906

[Pogo]

Well that just knocked all the wind right out of me.............

[Ryan Harris]

Hard to believe this news. I've watched Howard fly a routine in something, more often than not the Bearcat, for 28 years straight. I'll never forget how graceful and effortless he made it look. I've tried for years to get what I felt was a satisfactory shot of the Bearcat. I think I finally did it in 2010. He will be missed greatly.

[Canso42]

What impressed me is the amount of this thread's postings that are eulogy.
I'd been around him on the ramp at airshows before but never got introduced. I didn't have the honor of knowing him personally but I feel the big hole on the warbird community.
I can still clearly remember the snarl of that R-2800 at full honk circling Easterwood field. Some bystander asked their companion to repeat something the announcer had said.
"His name is Pardue. He's the best there is in that type of fighter."

[Lynn Allen]

I have this '70's era photo I took at "Spirit of St. Louis" airport. I was never sure of the Corsairs origin, but I now assume it was Howards? Amusing humor!........John

It was N-67HP

[Elwyn]

Not much to say that hasn't already been said. Still in shock. Godspeed Mr Pardue.

[Steve T]

So sorry to read this news...

Howard Pardue was a regular at the old Hamilton air shows, coming all the way from Texas in one of his Navy fighters. I well remember a rained-out event in the early 80s after the cancellation of which the weather cleared a bit...and between Howard and Jerry Billing, there was quite the unofficial airshow anyway! Howard flew what must have been at least forty minutes of superb aerobatics in his FM-2 Wildcat, while Jerry did likewise with Cliff Robertson's Spitfire.

I actually met Howard only once, when my dad and I visited Breckenridge during a trip to Texas in 1992. As has been said, he was quiet and a bit reserved, but could not have been more hospitable. "Got some more planes in that hangar over there," he drawled; "go on in and have a look, it isn't locked..." Then he airtested his Fury, belting down the flightline at low level while Dad and I watched from the airshow reviewing stand--and anyone who knows me knows how well that went over with me!

Blue skies, Mr Pardue; you will be dearly missed. Deep condolences to the family.

Steve Tournay

[aabryant]

Nothing to add except my respect, sadness and condolences to Howard's many friends and family.
And Mr. Harris, your evocative photo expresses quite a lot of each.
Thank you.

[jbell]

Hard to believe this news. I've watched Howard fly a routine in something, more often than not the Bearcat, for 28 years straight. I'll never forget how graceful and effortless he made it look. I've tried for years to get what I felt was a satisfactory shot of the Bearcat. I think I finally did it in 2010. He will be missed greatly.

Hi Ryan, I know you won't mind. I've taken your wonderful photo as my "desktop background". A fitting memorial to Mr. Pardue........John

[Warbird Kid]

I never had the chance to meet him (like too many other legends that went before). As far back as I can remember the name Pardue has always been familiar to me with Warbirds, even for a Yankee like me. I cant add anything else that hasn't been already said. I feel terrible, I send my condolences to everyone affected, especially his family, and I hope he's eternally flying through clouds in that Bearcat. God speed, and blue skies.