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Both the pilot and the passenger of a World War II-era aircraft that crashed in Fredericksburg have now been identified.
The Associated Press reports that Texas Department of Public Safety Sgt. Orlando Moreno has identified the pilot as 73-year-old Cowden Ward, Jr. of Burnet and the passenger as 93-year-old Vincent Losada of San Antonio.
Both men were killed when the vintage airplane crashed into the parking lot of an apartment complex during a World War II re-enactment show.
Ward Jr. was the owner of Pecos Bill, the North American P-51D that crashed. According to the Freedom Flyers, Bowden honored over 130 WWII Veterans and Purple Heart Recipients veterans with flights in his P51 - completely free of charge - to thank them for their service to our country. He also did fly-over tributes at WWII Veterans' funerals & events.
Cowden Ward Jr. was also involved with the Highland Lakes Squadron CAF.
The pilot's identity was confirmed in a Facebook post by Cal Pacific Airmotive Inc.
Oshkosh Warbirds Squadron #32, a chapter of the Experimental Aircraft Association’s Warbirds of America division, released the following statement to FOX 7 Austin following the crash.
Freedom Flyers released the following statement regarding the passing of Bowden:
It was not immediately clear what caused the crash.
The FAA and NTSB are currently investigating the crash.