Bearcat Accident in Breckenridge, 4/4/12

[Matt Gunsch]

I have held off posting on this thread for personal reasons, but in dealing with the NTSB in several accidents, I have come to the conclusion that they will not let the truth get in the way of their theories.

That being said, The first time I met Howard was in Chino during the airshow. It was the year they opened the Spruce Goose dome in Long Beach, I was crewing SJ and it was my first away airshow with the B-17. I had read about Howard and his Corairs and never expected to meet him in Chino. We were having breakfast and there was a open seat next to me at the booth we were sitting at and this big guy comes over and sits next to me and introduces himself with a Texas drawl as Howard Pardue, needless to say, I was speechless. Several years later I met Howard again in Breckenridge when I was there with Carl Schmieder and the Cactus Squadron and of course running into him at Oshkosh.

Steve, I know what you are going thru having been there myself, but please post your picture of Howard's last takeoff, as a tribute to Howard, I wish I had seen Carl's last takeoff.

[gary1954]

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.

Excellent photo, Sunset on the end of an Era....awesome man, awesome...

[Steve S]

Sorry that you think it's good they didn't take any photo's Mr Dickey, but a photo of the wreckage or a video of the crash could help us alot.

Also, since you were an eyewitness, how much was the aircraft destroyed, and could he have bailed out? (I ask about the plane because if it's fixable it can be rebuilt to honor him)

~Chris

Who is this going to Help -the FAA already has plenty of there own pictures, and if by "us" you mean the folks on this board- hmmm- sorry to say EPIC FAIL. Please don't try to mask you own curiosity as a Public Service.

I think it is great that you have an apprecation for warbirds in your teens and wish there were many more like you out there - but there is a lot you have to learn kid.
As most of the folks that have been in the community for an extended period will probably agree(and yes I count myself a member of the community haveing spent many more hours cleaning and doing whatever work is necessary on the birds than I have actually flown in them)- at first it may be seem that it is all about the planes and the hardware- but once you trully get involved you quickly realize that they are secondary and there is a much bigger factor that drives it- the people that have made and still make it happen. If you want hardware go to the smithsonian (sorry - no dig intended to those folks lurking here but I think you see where I am going). They do a great job of static preservation and education but in the end they don't convey the heart and soul of it all. Whether dealing with the guys that flew 35 mission over Germany, the Doolittle Raider Co-pilot that would rather help you sweep the hanger than sit around and be pampered, or the Marine Veteran who spent a whole Sh## load of his own money to bring something special to people who otherwise may never seen or heard the roar of a 2800 in flight. At the end of the day all that aluminum is just that- aluminum and without the person to make it come alive it is no more valuable than an old coke can in a recycling bin. As I mentioned to one of your comments on a FB post I realize you probaly mean will but this is not the time or place to bring up such things. While I was priviled to have met and interacted with Howard at several shows, I in no way consider myslef one of the privileged few to have actually konwn him- and the unfortuante fact remains that those people are going throw a very tough time right now and need our support in any way possible. bringing up issues or questions that serve no true purpose other than to feed your own curiosty is pointless and just hurts those folks more. And those are the folks you don't want to hurt cause I can tell you from experience that when the chips are down and the sh** does hit the fan they are the ones that will be there to back you up.

Okay - step back, take minute to look at the facts, and realise that we are dealing with peoples emotions hear ( and yes pilots do have them, not always obvious). Something will come out eventuallyu and at the end of the day whatever they say happened is meaningless- doesn't change a thing, doesn't make it any easier for his family, doesn't let us go back in time.

Stepping down off my soap box for the 357th time

[Mark Allen M]

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Last edited by Mark Allen M on Mon Sep 10, 2012 8:46 pm, edited 2 times in total.

[Django]

I've always wondered what the basis for the paintjob on the Bearcat. Was it a legitmate postwar scheme or something created in the late 70s? Either way, it has always been my favorite Bearcat.

My thoughts are with everyone tomorrow.

[mazdaP5]

I've always wondered what the basis for the paintjob on the Bearcat. Was it a legitmate postwar scheme or something created in the late 70s? Either way, it has always been my favorite Bearcat.

My thoughts are with everyone tomorrow.

Almost positive the scheme was authentic, save for the P tail code.

[Django]

Thanks to Mustangdriver for the tip on the Bearcat at Pensacola!

[k5083]

The wraparound stripe blending into the star 'n bar was used on the CAG 19 CO's airplane, USS Boxer ca. 1948, coded 100 with B on the tail. Bearcat 121710 at Pensacola is now displayed in these markings. Microscale used to make a 1/72 decal sheet of it; here's my model:



I have a few slides from 1982 of what I believe to be Pardue's Bearcat at Oshkosh 1982, at or just before the time he acquired it, still in the fully accurate CAG-19 scheme coded 100-B and with the "Carrier Air Group 19" legend on the stripe. I will scan and post one when I get the chance. I think Enhorning put that scheme on and Pardue adapted it to the 14-P codes.

[Django]

Thanks August.

The model looks great.

[Mark Allen M]

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Last edited by Mark Allen M on Mon Sep 10, 2012 8:46 pm, edited 1 time in total.

[MKD1966]

The wraparound stripe blending into the star 'n bar was used on the CAG 19 CO's airplane, USS Boxer ca. 1948, coded 100 with B on the tail. Bearcat 121710 at Pensacola is now displayed in these markings. Microscale used to make a 1/72 decal sheet of it; here's my model:



I have a few slides from 1982 of what I believe to be Pardue's Bearcat at Oshkosh 1982, at or just before the time he acquired it, still in the fully accurate CAG-19 scheme coded 100-B and with the "Carrier Air Group 19" legend on the stripe. I will scan and post one when I get the chance. I think Enhorning put that scheme on and Pardue adapted it to the 14-P codes.

Currently the 1/32 scale Trumpeter Bearcat is in these colors... And I believe your right - it was George Enhorning who originally had it painted in these markings... I remember him bringing it to Sun N Fun in 1982...

[Steve Pierce]

Howard and Fast Eddie in Howard's Bug with the Fury spinner. Vampire and Ju52 in the background. In front of Ezell Aviation Hanger, Breckenridge mid 1990s.

[67Cougar]

One of the local TV stations had some footage of the crash site, though it was limited. The only recognizable piece was the engine. If anyone is interested, you can find it on youtube.

[Braveheart51]

I've always wondered what the basis for the paintjob on the Bearcat. Was it a legitmate postwar scheme or something created in the late 70s? Either way, it has always been my favorite Bearcat.

My thoughts are with everyone tomorrow.

Don't know how to post a picture here, so I will post a link of my T-6, Look at the paint scheme

http://www.beautyineverything.com/6036999661
http://www.flickr.com/photos/lmbell/6051638731/

[DaveG]

Don't know how to post a picture here, so I will post a link of my T-6, Look at the paint scheme

usually, you just click on the "Img" box at the top and paste the url for your picture in between.





for these I had to right click on your pictures and click on "copy image location" and use that info between the "img" thingies.



Dave the somewhat computer literate