William "Bill" Anders, the astronaut who showed us our planet as we had never seen it
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Published 2024-06-07
Anders’ son, Lt. Col. Greg Anders, told KOMO News the plane that crashed was the same aircraft he flew in 2017 when he spoke to KOMO News.
The first report that an “older model plane” crashed around 11:40 a.m. Friday, the San Juan County Sheriff’s Office said. Officials said the T-34 was reportedly flying from north to south before crashing about 80 feet offshore of Jones Island.
Anders told KOMO News in 2017 a Beechcraft T-34 Mentor was the very first plane he flew solo in, many, many years ago.
Anders was on Apollo 8, along with Frank Borman and Jim Lovell. He was one of the first three members of humankind to break free from Earth's grasp and leave its orbit.
"Apollo 8 is very real in my mind when I look up at the moon and it's very new, which is the way it was when we went,” he told KOMO News.
On Apollo 8's fourth trip around the moon, with Anders and the others looking out from their tiny ship, something extraordinary happened.
It was the planet Earth, blue and infinitely beautiful and so tiny against the blackness and nothingness behind it, rising above the scorched surface of the moon.
Thinking back, Anders explained, "One of my secondary duties on Apollo 8 was a photographer, to take pictures of potential landing sites and geological features of interest on the moon, and we had no light meters."
Then, he said something astounding, in retrospect: "Nobody thought about taking pictures of the Earth."
Anders said NASA had planned everything about the trip in incredible detail. But nobody had made even the slightest mention of taking a photograph of our planet. Somehow it had fallen through the cracks of one of the greatest journeys ever taken by humans.
On the grainy film from 1968, you hear Anders say, "Hand me a roll of color, quick!" And then, "Oh man, I have it right here!"
"And so basically, when the Earth came up, I basically pointed the camera, got color film, got a long lens so the Earth would be bigger, and started clicking away and changing the F-stop as I went,” Anders told KOMO News.
Anders said he knew it was something special the moment it happened. That is proven on the film when he says, "Oh, that's a beautiful shot!"
But inside the capsule, there was no way any of them could have known the impact the picture would have on that bright blue marble that was dancing before them on Dec. 24, 1968.
It came to be known as the “Earthrise” photo. It was our first look at ourselves. Our first image of how delicate we are, and how small.
See the full Eric’s Heroes story from 2017: komonews.com/news/erics-heroes/erics-heroes-the-as…
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For more on the lead story: komonews.com/news/local/plane-crash-jones-island-s…
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All Comments (21)
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Served his country with honor and distinction, took the most famous photo in history, quoted Genesis on Christmas while orbiting the moon, and went out doing what he loved more than anything. A life very well lived. Rest in peace, Sir. "God bless all of You, all of You on the good Earth." ~ Apollo 8
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Rest In Peace, sir. Thank you for taking the "Earthrise" photograph.
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I met Bill Anders, Frank Borman and Jim Lovell serving on the USS Yorktown CVS 10 after recovery of Apollo 8. I was lucky enough to be Bill Anders orderly while on board. I recall he was promoted to Colonel while on board. L/Cpl G. Schauer, Marine Detachment. A very rememberable couple of days in my life. Sorry to hear of his passing.
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Spectacular human being. Rest in Peace, Mr. Anders, and thanks for the greatest photograph ever taken. "We went to explore the moon & ended up discovering the Earth."
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I remember that moon mission. They circled the moon without landing just to see if going to the moon was even possible. The public was stunned to see the first pictures from the Moon. Then the Earth rise photo blew everyone's mind. We could not have asked for a better Christmas present from NASA.
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One of my greatest privileges was to know Bill Anders -Apollo 8 astronaut and photographer of the iconic “Earthrise” photo. As an 18 year old cadet, my roommate Greg Anders introduced me to his dad -always referred to as “the General” Bill was an inspiring figure, and a quietly poetic astronaut.
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Bill went out with his boots on. He was proof that there are/ were "Old, Bold Pilots" Rest in Peace.
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What an amazing man. The picture that he took with his Hasselblad camera is without equal.
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I was 17 years old on that Christmas Eve night 1968, and I will always remember that night. It was a historic event, and it changed the world.
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RIP Bill. Thank you for everything you have done for us. And thank you for taking the picture that showed us ourselves.
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One last time General Bill Anders, flying high and living life on a beautiful June afternoon here in the San Juan Islands. This last flight, Bill was the co pilot. God saw the opportunity to take his faithful son while he soared in the air. Bill is home in Heaven now and enjoying the view of Earth once again. A life boldly, bravely and fully lived. Peace be with you Bill and your family. ✨😇🙏✝️💖💞❣️
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He now lives with God and reached the stars...........
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I met Bill Anders once at the Heritage Flight Museum in Burlington 4 years ago. I was there at a fly in and had brought a burned D-Day Spitfire yolk with me. Bill spotted the Spitfire yolk and came over for a talk. We discussed the D-Day attack and how much was at stake that day. Thanked him for his work and great photograph. A terrific American. God bless Bill Anders.
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My aunt and uncle were friends with the parents of Bill Anders in La Mesa, California. They were invited to the Anders home to watch the events on TV in 1968. Arthur Anders, Bill's father, won the navy cross for fighting off a Japanese air attack on the USS Panay in 1937.
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RIP, Sir. You and all of the Apollo Astronauts are my heros. For those of you reading this, I will say, today, in the Paciific Northwest this amazing human west on an amazing NORTHWEST DAY. One other thing. GREETINGS ;)
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I went with my family to visit the Air Museum at Skagit Airport on Friday. When we arrived around Noon - we saw a car with the license plate "P-51 Pilot" then when we got to the front the doors were all closed. A man came out and told us "We are closed today" we asked if they would be open the next day and we got a short "Probably not". I was very disappointed at the time but now, knowing what happened I'm heartbroken. Rest in Peace Mr. Anders, thank you for your service.
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A really MAJOR General. 🙂 Two things came to mind, watching this: Heinlein's Poem "The Green Hills of Earth". The song by Kansas "Icarus / Borne on Wings of Steel". RIP, General Anders. You were a light we can all hope to at least a little bit emulate.
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Соболезнуем! Как жаль! Удивительный человек!
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So saddened to hear of Bill Anders passing today. He was one of my close favorites of the Apollo era. A quiet achiever that went with the flow. One flight but what a flight to be on. He took that Earth-rise photo above the moon the year I was born. Maybe that's why Apollo 8 will always be close to me. He achieved a lot in his lifetime. Thanks for giving me the inspiration for me to do better...
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Wow I remember seeing him talk about being first guys to ride the Saturn V.
