Bad News From Breckenridge, TX.

[Steve Pierce]

Got a call today from Breckenridge. Seems Howard Pardue crashed his Bearcat while doing a roll on take-off and dished out, from eye-witness account . Very sad for Howard's family. It is my favorite airplane. An F8F Bearcat that was one of 14 that were hand built by Grumman and designated XF8F. Howard let me borrow all of the records a long time ago which made for some interesting reading. It was built before the war was over and was flown by many of the Navy aces from the Pacific theater at Patuxent River Naval Testing Center. It was then retrofitted with target drone and radio test stuff and then convert back to an F8F by the Navy and donated to Smithsonian. It was cocooned in storage for many years and was finally traded along with an amphib to Daryl Greenamyer for Conquest 2 (a highly modified Bearcat) that held several speed records. It was then sold and restored ad after restoration sold to Howard. He has shown it on the airshow circuit and Reno for many years. I have many fond memories of Howard and the Bearcat. Both will be missed.
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Pictures by Lou Furlong.

[kevin]

Very sad news Steve. I had seen this wonderful plane in many pictures. He will be missed.

[SJ]

Sorry to hear about Howard. Our annual pilgrimage to ogle his planes is one of favorite things about being at the restoration seminar. Of course, I am very partial to Lou's picture of Laura in the cockpit of that very plane. My observation - which may be completely unjustified - has always been that many of these warbirds are very unforgiving. As much as I admire them from a distance, and sometimes even up close, I don't feel any desire to take the stick. Howard obviously was highly accomplished with these planes - to have flown them for as long as he did. May he rest in peace.

sj

[cafi19]

As has been said....very sorry to hear this news. My thoughts and prayers for the family and for all down in Breckenridge. It must be a shock for everyone there.

Judging by the memorabilia on his hangar wall....he has certainly left his mark. Blue skies!

cafi

[Beach Bum]

Can't believe he's now gone. I remember going to Reno, in my much younger days, and watching him race. Very sorry to hear.

[Tracytw]

Sad day indeed. His memories will live on forever. Semper Fidelis Howard.

[Flying Miss Daisy]

Darn Steve,
That is sad news indeed. Howard's life touched many people. I am sure his bucket list was short as he was bigger than life living on the edge.
Blue skies and Long Slow Rolls Howard!

[aktango58]

Steve,

I am very sorry. I remember meeting him my first trip down there, he had returned with his Beechcraft after being in Houston.

What a great person to allow all of us show up and crawl all over his planes... He will be missed by us for sure.

My best to you, and his family.

George

[Tadpole]

I saw this earlier elsewhere, blue skies Howard. I sure loved seeing that plane last year at Breck and hearing about him.

[Iflylower]

Horrible news. I too enjoyed seeing Howard's Bearcat during the resto-seminar, and his other planes for that matter. Blue skies Howard.

[jaypratt]

Howard and his Bearcat had a special place in my heart. I was on my first 'crosscountry' working on my private licence when we flew to Breckenridge, TX, 1984 . We saw Howard practicing his air show routine as we approached downwind. It was like I had my own private airshow. I had not known of him or Bearcats before that time. He was and is still an insparition to me and my flying.
Blue skys Howard, and tailwinds. You will be missed.

[aktango58]

Steve,

been telling Lyn about this... and got thinking.

After the hospitality Mr. Pardue showed us cub folks letting us in his hangers and planes, can we do something to pay respects to the family?

Let me know, I can send a little cash.

George

[SJ]

http://www.reporternews.com/news/201...y-plane-crash/

[SJ]

More info: http://www.flyingmag.com/news/howard...-bearcat-crash

[Gunny]

I have never made it to a restoration seminar or had the privilege of seeing his wonderful aircraft except in photos. The newspaper article says he was a Marine pilot. Semper Fidelis and Godspeed Sir.

[Steve Pierce]

Gunny, You and Howard would have hit it off for sure.

[DW]

Very sad news Steve, Howard will be missed, blue skys my friend.

DW

[beechnut]

Very sad to hear.

Saw him and his Hawker Fury at the Galveston show years ago.

[Steve Pierce]

There was an amazing memorial service for Howard today. Three Bearcats and nelson in Howard's Fury in a Missing Man formation. I hope Lee appreciated what he got to see. I have come to realize that I have taken for granted many experiences that will never happen again.

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[Iflylower]

Very fitting. I've been thinking alot of Howard this week. I flew with a guy all February (while missing this years resto seminar) that has flown with both Howard and Nelson and I heard some good stories. What gentlemen. It made me appreciate even more what they do.

A guy that owned a Sea Fury and a Bearcat and Corsairs, can you be too blessed? Wow.


My biggest surprise after really getting into airplanes was to learn that most WWII drivers in the know will tell you the Bearcat was the best. I don't know, that Sea Fury.....

[Steve Pierce]

Cal, Howard told me the Bearcat was the best airplane and had no real bad habits but he really enjoyed flying the Wildcat the best. Nelson's favorite is the Fury. Having gotten to fly a Mk20 dual control Fury I was impressed, light controls and unlimited power from the R3350 up front.

Video I shot with my phone of the three Bearcats and the Fury taking off.