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Video shows fiery small plane crash into WA waters near Orcas Island
A former astronaut who was part of the Apollo 8 crew was reportedly the pilot inside a plane that crashed into Puget Sound near Orcas Island on Friday.
Bill Anders is the one who took the famous "Earthrise" photo while in orbit around the moon.![]()
Video shows fiery small plane crash into WA waters near Orcas Island
A former astronaut who was part of the Apollo 8 crew was reportedly the pilot inside a plane that crashed into Puget Sound near Orcas Island on Friday.www.fox13seattle.com
That picture still gives me goosebumps. Never gets old. Bar none my favorite picture in this life that doesn't involve my kid. What an experience that must have been. It is a beautiful planet.
It was Ander's father that received the Navy Cross for his actions during the attack on the US Navy gunboat USS Panay. He was the exec when it was attacked by Japanese aircraft in 1937.What a remarkable life—he also received the Navy Cross, the service’s highest award for valor after the Medal of Honor.
https://www.nytimes.com/2024/06/07/...e_code=1.yE0.9f1m.ocExKQBplBaJ&smid=url-share
Distinguished family, then. Apple doesn’t fall far from the tree.It was Ander's father that received the Navy Cross for his actions during the attack on the US Navy gunboat USS Panay. He was the exec when it was attacked by Japanese aircraft in 1937.
William Alison Anders was born on Oct. 17, 1933, in Hong Kong, where he was living with his mother, Muriel Adams Anders, while his father, Lt. Arthur Anders, a career Navy man, was serving as an officer on the gunboat Panay on patrol along China’s Yangtze River.
After a stint in Annapolis, Md., the family returned to China, with his father posted aboard the Panay, once more, as the executive officer, or second in command. But after a Japanese attack in Beijing in July 1937, prompting the start of the Sino-Japanese War, Bill and his mother fled to the Philippines.
In December, while the Panay was carrying out the evacuation of Americans from China, Japanese planes bombed and strafed the boat.
Its captain was severely injured and Lieutenant Anders, who was also wounded, nevertheless took command and ordered the boat’s machine gunners to fire at the Japanese planes. He also oversaw the boat’s evacuation before it sank, for which he received the Navy Cross, the service’s highest award for valor after the Medal of Honor.
I've not looked for it myself, but this was posted in the other thread about the crash:Anyone find it interesting there is no entry for him in the public FAA airman certification database? I searched by name, dob, etc. RIP nonetheless.
Not particularly.Anyone find it interesting there is no entry for him in the public FAA airman certification database?
Disregard. Apparently user error on my part.I've not looked for it myself, but this was posted in the other thread about the crash:
View attachment 129777
That was probably one of Bill's sons Greg, who is a very approachable guy. The whole family is really nice.I think my family met him about 15 years ago when he had stopped at KSAT with his P-51 Valhalla for fuel. We didn’t have a clue who he was but saw the P-51 at the FBO and stopped to look. That was back when I had a film camera and I’m pretty sure I took some pictures, but I have no idea where they are at the moment. He was really polite and nice to talk to and we got to go all around the P-51. Had no clue at the time who he was.
That was not a loop.I came across a video of the crash on YouTube, taken from a distance of two miles or so. Wasn't looking for it, my algorithm prioritizes aviation stuff. I recommend avoidance.
Anders hit the water at the bottom of a loop, having insufficient altitude.
Indeed. For the curious, I highly suggest the book/audio book "Rocketmen". Apollo 8 was way sketchier than Apollo 13.The Apollo 8 mission was a daring first manned full up test of the Saturn V with an S1C first stage. It was a magnificent success, and certainly Ander's photo was a gift to all mankind that will endure forever.
Rest easy, General.
Aerobatic maneuver gone wrong?
Thanks for the book recommendation. I read “Apollo 8” a few years ago and thought it was awesome. It made me feel a lot safer the first time I flew my E/A-B.That was probably one of Bill's sons Greg, who is a very approachable guy. The whole family is really nice.
That was not a loop.
Indeed. For the curious, I highly suggest the book/audio book "Rocketmen". Apollo 8 was way sketchier than Apollo 13.
Third launch of a Saturn V (the second one blew up so obviously you strap dudes into it for the next launch), first time mankind left Earth orbit - on a highly compressed schedule in order to beat the Russians. They strapped in knowing their chances of survival were 50/50.
Funny. Was having a scotch with a buddy last night and we were talking about a mutual friend who passed away from aggressive brain cancer last year. Retired Navy fighter pilot. Right before surgery he took one last flight in his Pitts to watch a SpaceX launch. We were both surprised he returned from the flight. "Just roll inverted and pull."Yep. Looks like he was doing a split S and too low to the water to pull it off. Kinda reminds me of the blue angel crash a few years ago. 90 years old and doing aerobatics. I guess there was one old, bold pilot left. Blue skies…
I thought Apollo 8 was a good book too. I asked Greg Anders about it. He said Bill didn't care for the book because it had a lot of inaccuracies, and recommended Rocketmen.Thanks for the book recommendation. I read “Apollo 8” a few years ago and thought it was awesome. It made me feel a lot safer the first time I flew my E/A-B.
Aerobatic maneuver gone wrong?
Any chance that he experienced G-LOC?
I'd assume he has quite a tolerance for G forces, obviously, but is that something that diminishes with age?
A grim reminder of how deliberate we need to be in ALL we do. No matter our previous experience. Life is just THAT fleeting.