Warbird Information Exchange

http://www.breckenridgeamerican.com/new ... t-news.asp

The June display in NASM's Milestones of Flight gallery came and went before at least some of Howard's family were aware of it. If you have any photos of the panel, I would appreciate it if you would post them here or send me a PM.

Thank you,
Dave

Dave,
The panel read..................

Howard Pardue
1935 –2012

Howard Edwards Pardue pursued a life in aviation as a Marine Corps
aviator, warbird owner and pilot, museum founder, and air racer. He
passed away on April 4.
Born in Breckinridge, Texas, Pardue enrolled in Texas Tech University in
1952. A year later, he joined the U.S. Marine Corps. Selected for flight
training, he received his wings at Pensacola Naval Air Station. As a
fighter pilot, Pardue flew most of the Marine Corps’ high-performance
aircraft, including the North American FJ Fury, Grumman F9F Panther,
Vought F8U Crusader, Douglas F4D Skyray, and Douglas A-4 Skyhawk.
He also spent time at the Naval Training Command as a pilot instructor.
Pardue served 12 years on active and reserve duty and retired with the
rank of major.
Pardue’s great passion was flying warbirds, military surplus aircraft
from the World War II era. His fighters included a rare Grumman
XF8F-1 Bearcat, General Motors FM-2 Wildcat, and Hawker Sea Fury.
He became well known for his beautiful and precise air show routines
and was a crowd favorite. As an enthusiastic supporter of the warbird
community, Pardue participated in aircraft recovery around the world
and founded the Breckenridge Aviation Museum.
The speed and competition of air racing drew Pardue and many other
warbird pilots to the National Championship Air Races, held every
September near Reno, Nevada. World War II fighters were some of the
most powerful propeller-driven, piston-engine aircraft ever made, so
they were ideal for the Unlimited Class, which dictated no restrictions
to limit performance. For 29 years, he raced both his Bearcat and
Sea Fury and captured many wins.
Pardue logged over 14,000 flight hours in 120 types of aircraft in over
50 years of flying. The U.S. Navy appointed him and his Bearcat in 2002
to its Legacy Flight, a formation of historic aircraft representing naval
aviation history from World War II to the present. The Experimental
Aircraft Association inducted him into the Warbirds of America Hall
of Fame in 2004.

Howard Edwards Pardue pursued a life in aviation as a Marine Corps
aviator, warbird owner and pilot, museum founder, and air racer. He
passed away on April 4.
Born in Breckinridge, Texas, Pardue enrolled in Texas Tech University in
1952. A year later, he joined the U.S. Marine Corps. Selected for flight
training, he received his wings at Pensacola Naval Air Station. As a
fighter pilot, Pardue flew most of the Marine Corps’ high-performance
aircraft, including the North American FJ Fury, Grumman F9F Panther,
Vought F8U Crusader, Douglas F4D Skyray, and Douglas A-4 Skyhawk.
He also spent time at the Naval Training Command as a pilot instructor.
Pardue served 12 years on active and reserve duty and retired with the
rank of major.
Pardue’s great passion was flying warbirds, military surplus aircraft
from the World War II era. His fighters included a rare Grumman
XF8F-1 Bearcat, General Motors FM-2 Wildcat, and Hawker Sea Fury.
He became well known for his beautiful and precise air show routines
and was a crowd favorite. As an enthusiastic supporter of the warbird
community, Pardue participated in aircraft recovery around the world
and founded the Breckenridge Aviation Museum.
The speed and competition of air racing drew Pardue and many other
warbird pilots to the National Championship Air Races, held every
September near Reno, Nevada. World War II fighters were some of the
most powerful propeller-driven, piston-engine aircraft ever made, so
they were ideal for the Unlimited Class, which dictated no restrictions
to limit performance. For 29 years, he raced both his Bearcat and
Sea Fury and captured many wins.
Pardue logged over 14,000 flight hours in 120 types of aircraft in over
50 years of flying. The U.S. Navy appointed him and his Bearcat in 2002
to its Legacy Flight, a formation of historic aircraft representing naval
aviation history from World War II to the present. The Experimental
Aircraft Association inducted him into the Warbirds of America Hall
of Fame in 2004.
Howard Pardue
1935 – 2012

I'll see if I can get you a picture.

Marauderman26 - Superb. Thank you very much for sharing this. A photo to pass along would be wonderful. - Dave