Bill Anders was the astronaut who took this photograph on Christmas Eve 1968 when he, Frank Borman and Jim Lovell became the first humans to ever experience this moment, “Earthrise,” as the living Earth rose into sight above the dead Moon. The photograph has literally changed our view of ourselves. As he put it later, “I went to study the Moon, and what I discovered was the Earth.”
Yeah, and Jimmy Leeward had flown that race 14 years earlier, he might have been able to deal with losing the trim tab quickly enough to pull out of the race and at a minimum crash elsewhere than the stands.
What's even worse is they were more the victims of the people running the air races than the airplane. The area where Leeward hit was filled with folding chairs that allowed the Serious Fans to get even closer to "the action," for which they paid a premium on their ticket of $100 each. When I was part of the race scene there in the 70s and early 80s, that area was kept clear, with only race planes and crews allowed into it, for runup of the engines and such, and only when there was no flying going on. That was because it was known that if a guy ran into trouble coming off the final pylon to the straightaway, that was where the crash was most likely to happen. RARA approved opening it up to fans in 2000, to generate additional income for the races, since there had been no problems there in the 35 previous years of racing, declaring that the area was safe. I gave that information to the aviation lawyer who represented the victims, he got the relevant communications through discovery, and the asswipes got a 50% increase in the judgement against them for "a knowing reckless decision."
I quit the races when they became a toy for the talentless Rich Idiots who showed up with their toys in the early 80s. Money always changes everything, and always for the worse.
My Dad died in his own bed at 96. He was 89 when he last held the stick. A dear friend of his, a very much younger woman was the chief pllot of an exeutive aircraft company. She had to put the hours on them to keep up the certs, and would call him in the morning to tell him to meet at the SLO airport cafe for lunch. She would always ask him to show her some more of his favorite spots on the coast or in the Sierras and tell him the left seat was his. He had the hours on her. He loved those big fancy Gulfstreams. Smooth as silk. He told her that next time she might set it down. Caution, you know.
Saw that report last week and hoped you'd write about Anders. When I read it I suspected a medical emergency may have been the problem because of his advanced age, but certainly there are those other human variables that you've pointed out here. (It makes me wonder if we've got a sky full of guys who can no longer get their driver's licenses renewed.)
It's a cliche', but Anders departed doing something he must have loved.
We don't. The FAA follows the publication of all state lists of those who have been denied driver's licences for age, and that cancels the pilot's license.
I was so sad to read about it, first wondering if it was intentional, then realized I’d never known a pilot capable of intentionally destroying his aircraft for his own benefit. Thank you for your post regarding Anders.
When I saw that he passed last week I knew that you would write about it and that you would know far more than what I read in the WP or NYT. Around 2002 I lost a key grip friend who was flying his trainer over Canyon Country, he too crashed after a dive, we thought it might have been a cardiac arrest, and that was the first thing I thought when I read about Anders’ passing, as a side bar about him, his Earthrise photo was shot with the earth peeking around the moon on the right side of the frame, using a Hasslebad which is a 2 1/4 square camera. The photo works better with the moon on the bottom, it was a photo of a lifetime. 90 years is a long life and his was well lived. RIP 🙏
So sad to hear of Anders’ passing, but the old, bold pilot point is well taken. Some solace can be taken that he died doing something that he loved to do…
Beautifully written post TC. Coming up on the anniversary of my brother's fatal plane accident. He was a bush pilot in Alaska approaching a desolate airstrip with a load of salmon from a remote Indian village , it appears he was flying too low & either stalled or encountered some wind interference. He somehow managed to crawl out of the Cessna 210 while engulfed in flames & was airlifted to a burn/ trauma unit in Seattle where I was the designated family member allowed in his room , a private ICU for 19 days. I wrote a book about that important time of our lives for my own therapy so I could hold dear the highs that matched the lows. At 35 yrs he preferred flying through the Gates of the Arctic & adventures he would never have had as a commercial pilot. Fittingly my soul brother passed on Independence Day .
I was sorry to hear about the death of Bill Anders. I have a tangential, distant connect to Gene Cernan, who as you note, was also on the flight with Bill. Gene Cernan wrote the words that later became a well-known Up With People song, "Moon Rider" << That organization being one that deeply appreciated Gene's participation on their board for many years. (I'm an UWP alum from 1985.) Jim Lovell was a friend of a friend of ours, Robert Bell, who worked with NASA for many years and died of pancreatic cancer in 2020, just before the pandemic lockdown began. Jim was at Bob's funeral. So, while Bill may have been overshadowed - at least in my knowledge, by the others, he definitely cemented his place in our history by his place on that crew and with his photograph.
As to your mention of "old, bold pilots"... you doubtless know many of the old, bold crop dusters of California and elsewhere. I've always been thrilled when I get to see them at work, and my heart skips several beats as I watch open-mouthed and pray for their safety. Recently, I had such an experience with a plane that flew directly over our car as we drove westward to Fort Bragg, near Richvale. I could see the pilot's face! So exciting! Sadly, three days later Hugh Mattingly, 63 crashed his crop duster at the end of the runway in Richvale. I can't be sure it was his plane we saw, but my heart was broken at the news.
RIP Bill and Hugh, may you dance the skies on laughter silvered wings.
He crashed in a harbor on the far end of San Juan Island, in Puget Sound, a place you get to by ferry boat. One of my close friends--someone I've known since I was 2 or 3, lives on the island's opposite end, just outside of Friday Harbor, where I've visited a couple of times. Good excuse to call him, but I'm sorry Anders died, even if it was his fault (hard to know).
Thanks for this essay - sorry to hear of the loss. From the video it looked as though he was doing a loop and ran out of altitude; another 50-100' and he would have made it. I wonder if G-forces got him at that advanced age (says the jibrone sneaking up on said age).....
Yeah, and Jimmy Leeward had flown that race 14 years earlier, he might have been able to deal with losing the trim tab quickly enough to pull out of the race and at a minimum crash elsewhere than the stands.
That's the part that sticks with me: 22 people dead.
What's even worse is they were more the victims of the people running the air races than the airplane. The area where Leeward hit was filled with folding chairs that allowed the Serious Fans to get even closer to "the action," for which they paid a premium on their ticket of $100 each. When I was part of the race scene there in the 70s and early 80s, that area was kept clear, with only race planes and crews allowed into it, for runup of the engines and such, and only when there was no flying going on. That was because it was known that if a guy ran into trouble coming off the final pylon to the straightaway, that was where the crash was most likely to happen. RARA approved opening it up to fans in 2000, to generate additional income for the races, since there had been no problems there in the 35 previous years of racing, declaring that the area was safe. I gave that information to the aviation lawyer who represented the victims, he got the relevant communications through discovery, and the asswipes got a 50% increase in the judgement against them for "a knowing reckless decision."
Thanks for the additional info, TC, and good on you for providing it to the lawyer.
I quit the races when they became a toy for the talentless Rich Idiots who showed up with their toys in the early 80s. Money always changes everything, and always for the worse.
My Dad died in his own bed at 96. He was 89 when he last held the stick. A dear friend of his, a very much younger woman was the chief pllot of an exeutive aircraft company. She had to put the hours on them to keep up the certs, and would call him in the morning to tell him to meet at the SLO airport cafe for lunch. She would always ask him to show her some more of his favorite spots on the coast or in the Sierras and tell him the left seat was his. He had the hours on her. He loved those big fancy Gulfstreams. Smooth as silk. He told her that next time she might set it down. Caution, you know.
Saw that report last week and hoped you'd write about Anders. When I read it I suspected a medical emergency may have been the problem because of his advanced age, but certainly there are those other human variables that you've pointed out here. (It makes me wonder if we've got a sky full of guys who can no longer get their driver's licenses renewed.)
It's a cliche', but Anders departed doing something he must have loved.
We don't. The FAA follows the publication of all state lists of those who have been denied driver's licences for age, and that cancels the pilot's license.
Good
And wasted a lovely aircraft.
Maybe in his mind - it wouldnt have been a waste?
I was so sad to read about it, first wondering if it was intentional, then realized I’d never known a pilot capable of intentionally destroying his aircraft for his own benefit. Thank you for your post regarding Anders.
Thank you Tom. I cried when I read he had crashed and died. He died doing what he
loved best..flying; either to
skim the Earth or touch the
stars.
Very respectful but honest too. Excellent essay.
So sad on many levels. Hope his legacy will endure forever in his iconic, beloved photograph.
Thank you Tom, Maybe for Bill, this was the best way to go. He was a great pilot while he lived, and that will remain forever.
No old, bold pilots. At least he was doing what he loved way beyond pasture time. The astronauts were/are human. Who is not…
Yeah. No disrespect to him, but this is a lesson for others, and not necessarily just pilots.
All of us need to never get too sure of ourselves…. Seems epidemic in some quarters
When I saw that he passed last week I knew that you would write about it and that you would know far more than what I read in the WP or NYT. Around 2002 I lost a key grip friend who was flying his trainer over Canyon Country, he too crashed after a dive, we thought it might have been a cardiac arrest, and that was the first thing I thought when I read about Anders’ passing, as a side bar about him, his Earthrise photo was shot with the earth peeking around the moon on the right side of the frame, using a Hasslebad which is a 2 1/4 square camera. The photo works better with the moon on the bottom, it was a photo of a lifetime. 90 years is a long life and his was well lived. RIP 🙏
So sad to hear of Anders’ passing, but the old, bold pilot point is well taken. Some solace can be taken that he died doing something that he loved to do…
And that he didn't kill 22 others in the event, like Leeward did "doing the thing he loved."
Beautifully written post TC. Coming up on the anniversary of my brother's fatal plane accident. He was a bush pilot in Alaska approaching a desolate airstrip with a load of salmon from a remote Indian village , it appears he was flying too low & either stalled or encountered some wind interference. He somehow managed to crawl out of the Cessna 210 while engulfed in flames & was airlifted to a burn/ trauma unit in Seattle where I was the designated family member allowed in his room , a private ICU for 19 days. I wrote a book about that important time of our lives for my own therapy so I could hold dear the highs that matched the lows. At 35 yrs he preferred flying through the Gates of the Arctic & adventures he would never have had as a commercial pilot. Fittingly my soul brother passed on Independence Day .
I was sorry to hear about the death of Bill Anders. I have a tangential, distant connect to Gene Cernan, who as you note, was also on the flight with Bill. Gene Cernan wrote the words that later became a well-known Up With People song, "Moon Rider" << That organization being one that deeply appreciated Gene's participation on their board for many years. (I'm an UWP alum from 1985.) Jim Lovell was a friend of a friend of ours, Robert Bell, who worked with NASA for many years and died of pancreatic cancer in 2020, just before the pandemic lockdown began. Jim was at Bob's funeral. So, while Bill may have been overshadowed - at least in my knowledge, by the others, he definitely cemented his place in our history by his place on that crew and with his photograph.
As to your mention of "old, bold pilots"... you doubtless know many of the old, bold crop dusters of California and elsewhere. I've always been thrilled when I get to see them at work, and my heart skips several beats as I watch open-mouthed and pray for their safety. Recently, I had such an experience with a plane that flew directly over our car as we drove westward to Fort Bragg, near Richvale. I could see the pilot's face! So exciting! Sadly, three days later Hugh Mattingly, 63 crashed his crop duster at the end of the runway in Richvale. I can't be sure it was his plane we saw, but my heart was broken at the news.
RIP Bill and Hugh, may you dance the skies on laughter silvered wings.
He crashed in a harbor on the far end of San Juan Island, in Puget Sound, a place you get to by ferry boat. One of my close friends--someone I've known since I was 2 or 3, lives on the island's opposite end, just outside of Friday Harbor, where I've visited a couple of times. Good excuse to call him, but I'm sorry Anders died, even if it was his fault (hard to know).
Thanks for this TC. Damn sad, and a damned important warning that's undoubtedly valid in other spheres.
Thanks for this essay - sorry to hear of the loss. From the video it looked as though he was doing a loop and ran out of altitude; another 50-100' and he would have made it. I wonder if G-forces got him at that advanced age (says the jibrone sneaking up on said age).....