The victim in a fatal plane crash Friday in Washington state has been identified as Retired Maj. Gen. William Anders, the former Apollo 8 astronaut who took the iconic “Earthrise” photo, his son Greg Anders confirmed to The Associated Press.
Just before noon, rescue crews responded to reports of a plane crash in Washington state between Orcas and Jones Island, the U.S. Coast Guard Pacific Northwest confirmed.
“The family is devastated,” Greg Anders told the AP. “He was a great pilot, and we will miss him terribly.”
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During a telecast on Christmas Eve 1968, the Apollo 8 crew read verses from the first chapter of Genesis and wished viewers, “Good night, good luck, a Merry Christmas and God bless all of you – all of you on the good Earth.”
Anders took the “Earthrise” photo while in lunar orbit on December 24, 1968, according to NASA.
William, along with Apollo 8 crew mates, is one of the first three people to have traveled to the Moon. Bill also has a crater on the Moon named in his honor named “The Anders Crater,” according to the Anders Foundation website.
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The FAA confirmed to Fox News Digital that the plane that crashed was a vintage Air Force T-34 Mentor and said the only person on board was the pilot.
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The San Juan County Sheriff’s Office told Fox News Digital they are still doing a search and rescue and assisting the Coast Guard.
Air Station Bellingham and Station Port Angeles are also on-scene and helping with search and rescue.
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The National Transportation Safety Board and FAA are investigating the crash.
This is a developing story.
The Associated Press contributed to this story.
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