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Laura Williamson-Family
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.
