Bearcat Accident in Breckenridge, 4/4/12

mustanglover · **Posted:** Wed Apr 04, 2012 6:15 pm

RIP Howard!

airnutz · **Posted:** Wed Apr 04, 2012 6:52 pm

Say it ain't so...Tailwinds Mr. Pardue, you will be missed.

Obergrafeter · **Posted:** Wed Apr 04, 2012 7:10 pm

Bearcat, Wildcat, Corsair, Sea Fury, Staggerwing....................he was a legend in all of them.

cooper9411 · **Posted:** Wed Apr 04, 2012 7:13 pm

Out thoughts go out to the Pardue family and friends.

TAdan · **Posted:** Wed Apr 04, 2012 7:17 pm

Wow, very sad news, my condolences to all that knew him.

spookythecat · **Posted:** Wed Apr 04, 2012 7:25 pm

Sad news.

My last finished model was of one of my favorite planes when I was a kid.

oscardeuce · **Joined:** Wed Jul 27, 2005 3:34 am **Posts:** 1021

What kit is that? I need to get it

mustangdriver · **Posted:** Wed Apr 04, 2012 7:40 pm

My heart goes out to his family and friends. We lost a legend today.

slinky · **Posted:** Wed Apr 04, 2012 7:44 pm

I took this at Breckenridge one year.....

Hard to believe....he will be missed.

Cherrybomber13 · **Posted:** Wed Apr 04, 2012 7:51 pm

Gutted...
I just got home and saw this...
Howard Pardue helped us last year with the landing gear for our Corsair.
Howard was a legend. I can only imagine what Nelson and family must be feeling right now.
Godspeed Howard.

Rob Mears · **Posted:** Wed Apr 04, 2012 7:53 pm

Howard is timeless rare earth, and an unquestionable prime element of civilian warbird history. Is there any other individual on the planet who has maintained such a consistant, high-profile presence bringing the sight and sound of classic Navy fighters to the public? To me he resides at the pinnacle. He was an unshakable enthusiast and a resilient grand master of his craft. If ever a man and his machine could be considered as one, it would without doubt be Howard and the XF8F-1. In my mind that aircraft was more closely associated with Howard than it was with Grumman itself. I'm so pleased and forever thankful for the man and all of the endeavors he brought to the table through the decades. He rightly and dilligently earned his title as the ascendant Texas icon of the warbird universe. God bless, and may he rest forever now among the stars.

- Godspeed HP -

lmritger · **Posted:** Wed Apr 04, 2012 8:06 pm

A tragic, heart-rending loss of one of the pillars of the Warbird community... what more can be said? My deepest condolences go out to Howard's family and vast circle of friends.

And Howard, if I could ask a favor... please tell Gary we said "Hi" when you get there, sir. We still miss him an awful lot down here, just as you'll be deeply missed by so many back here on this shiny blue rock.

With utmost respect and appreciation for all he's done for our community,

Lynn

NathanT24 · **Joined:** Sun Jul 25, 2004 11:27 pm **Posts:** 252

I got the privaledge to meet Howard and talk to him at Wings Over Houston. Howard was a great pilot and I enjoyed watching his F8F Aerobatics to music from Phantom of the Opera! So Blue Skys forever Howard and say Hi to Gary Austin and keep em flying up there!

kalamazookid · **Posted:** Wed Apr 04, 2012 8:40 pm

A very very sad day for the warbird community. Howard was a legend both as a pilot and as a person.

I met Howard at a Warbirds Over Kalamazoo show when I was about ten years old. He kinda scared me a bit, but he took the time to show me around his Wildcat. I'm sure there were many others who had similar experiences, and I'm sure there are many who have better stories that involve him. He will be sorely missed.

Condolences to family, friends, and others who knew him well.

K5DH · **Posted:** Wed Apr 04, 2012 8:50 pm

Style, grace, class. Made it look easy, didn't he? Nobody did it better. He was truly the pilot's pilot.

Godspeed, Howard. This world ain't gonna be the same without you.

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Bearcat Accident in Breckenridge, 4/4/12

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