Well-known air race and airshow pilot Howard Pardue was killed Wednesday when his F8F Bearcat went down on takeoff from Stephens County Airport in Texas. Witnesses said the aircraft became briefly airborne before crashing and catching fire. Pardue, 77, died at the scene.
Pardue was a former Marine Corps pilot and the crash aircraft is the second type flown by the Blue Angels. Pardue was also a member of the Naval Aviation Heritage Flight.
