BREAKING | Memorial Day Weekend Show Ends In P-47 Crash

BREAKING | Memorial Day Weekend Show Ends In P-47 Crash | World War Wings Videos

DailyMail

A Sad Day For Aviation.

On Friday May 27th, 2016, a P-47 Thunderbolt crashed into the Hudson River. Three World War II aircraft took part in celebrating 75th anniversary of the P-47. It was also a promotional flight for the American Airpower Museum based in Farmingdale, New York.
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The pilot, William Gordon, 56, took off for what seemed like a routine show but his plane malfunctioned mid-flight. The FAA is still investigating the incident and no claims were made as to what happened exactly. A local student who witnessed the crash however, stated, “It made kind of a U-turn, and then there was a stream of smoke coming from it…It was tilting down toward the water. I thought they were doing some sort of trick. I didn’t realize it at first, but it was a plane crash.”

Photo Source: FoxNews
Photo Source: FoxNews

The plane hit the Hudson at around 7:30 PM on Friday night, however, it took rescue crews about 3 hours to retrieve his body. A witness told CNN they saw him struggling to get out of the cockpit before the plane submerged.

Photo Source: FoxNews
Photo Source: FoxNews

According to friends and fellow aviators Gordon was an excellent pilot with over 25 years of experience and a deep respect for the heritage of vintage planes. The day following the crash they performed a “Missing Man Formation” as a tribute to him.

Our deepest condolences go out to William Gordon’s family and friends.

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