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to remember
Cowart, Erwin Hall, Capt.
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Contact Info
Home Town Garfield, Georgia
Last Address Ramey AFB, Puerto Rico
Date of Passing Jul 05, 1967
Location of Interment Hebron Primitive Baptist Church Cemetery - Garfield, Georgia
Captain Erwin Cowart was the co-pilot aboard the B-52G (#57-6494) that crashed on take off from Ramey AFB, Puerto Rico on 5 July 1967. The aircraft and crew served with the 72nd Bomb Wing at Ramey AFB (Aguadilla, Puerto Rico, USA).
"Crew S-05. Aircraft climbed straight out on the runway heading and it appeared normal until it reached an altitude of approximately 3000 feet and a distance of 5 miles from the take-off position. At this time a steep nose-over maneuver was noticed and the aircraft continued down in a steep dive until it disappeared below the horizon. Three crewmen ejected and survived. The aircraft struck the ocean at a steep angle. Later analysis indicated that the life raft stowed behind the co-pilot inflated, pushing him into the control yoke."
The aircraft crashed into the water. Military divers recovered the remains of those killed in the incident.
Crew:
Captain Donald Foster, Aircraft Commander, killed (Columbia, SC)
Captain Erwin Cowart, Co-pilot , killed (Twin City, GA)
1st Lt. Richard St. George, EWO, killed (Watsonville, CA)
Captain Taivo Patajan, Radar Navigator or Navigator, ejected/survived (Fresno, CA)
1st Lt. Paul Grimm, Radar-Navigator or Navigator, ejected/survived (Jacksonville, FL)
SSgt Leroy Spencer, Crew Chief, killed (Morrice, MI)
T.Sgt. Ronald Hagis, Gunner, ejected/survived (Angleton, TX)
Captain Cowart was interred in Hebron Cemetery, Garfield, Emanuel County, Georgia.
He is also memorialized in Arlington NC, VA.
Text: "AF Divers Seek Bodies in Bomber", Daily Review(Hayward, California), 6 July 1967, page 2. (Lists crew names, etc..)
Text: USAF Accident-Incident Report AF Form 711, 1967 July 25
s/Otis A. Sleep, Major, Investigating Officer (this text to be found on line)
Note: Memorials for Captain Cowart at Hebron Primitive Baptist Church Cemetery, Garfield, Emanuel, Georgia and at Arlington National Cemetery, Virgina.
1961-1967, B-52 Stratofortress (Buff)
From Year 1961
To Year 1967
Personal Memories
Not Specified
Image
B-52 Stratofortress (Buff) Details
Aircraft/Missile Information
Model Boeing B-52H Stratofortress Length 160.89 ft | 49.04 m Width 185.10 ft | 56.42 m Height 40.68 ft | 12.40 m Engine(s) 8 x Pratt & Whitney TF33-P-3 turbofan engines generating 17,000lbs of standard thrust each. Empty Weight 172,743 lbs | 78,355 kg MTOW 487,993 lbs | 221,350 kg Max Speed 595 mph | 958 km/h | 517 kts Max Range 10,000 miles | 16,093 km Ceiling 54,954 ft | 16,750 m | 10.4 miles Climb Rate Not Available Hardpoints 2 Armament Mission-specific armament can include any of the following:
20 x AGM-86B ALCM cruise missiles (internal) 20 x AGM-129 cruise missiles (internal) 2 x AGM-86B ALCMs cruise missile (external) 2 x AGM-129 cruise missiles (external) Free Fall Nuclear Bombs 12 x AGM-84 Harpoon anti-ship missiles 12 x AGM-142A air-to-surface missiles AGM-86C CALCM cruise missiles JDAMs
Up to 51,570lbs (340kg) class bombs or mines Accommodations 6 Operators United States of America