William Anders Obituary, Former Apollo 8 astronaut, retired Maj. Gen. died Friday in a plane crash; William Anders, renowned for capturing the iconic “Earthrise” photograph during the 1968 Apollo 8 mission, has tragically passed away. His son, Greg Anders, confirmed the news to The Associated Press, expressing the family’s profound grief. “The family is devastated,” Greg Anders said. “He was a great pilot, and we will miss him terribly.”
San Juan County Sheriff Eric Peter reported that a plane crashed into the water near the north end of Jones Island shortly after 11:30 a.m. on Friday. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) stated that only the pilot was on board at the time of the crash, and the plane involved was a Beech A45. Both the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) and the FAA are investigating the incident.
William Anders is best known for his “Earthrise” photograph, taken from lunar orbit during the Apollo 8 mission. The image became one of the most recognized photographs of the 20th century. In 1969, the photo was reproduced on a postage stamp with the inscription “In the beginning God…”
Anders was part of the historic Apollo 8 crew, alongside Colonel Frank Borman and Captain James Lovell Jr., who were the first men to leave Earth’s orbit. He was born on October 17, 1933, in Hong Kong.
In 1956, William Anders earned his pilot wings and subsequently pursued a master’s degree in nuclear engineering from the U.S. Air Force Institute of Technology at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base in Ohio. About a year later, he joined NASA as part of the third class of astronauts.
Anders retired from NASA and the Air Force in 1969, then served as the executive secretary of the National Aeronautics and Space Council, a presidential advisory unit. He retired from the Air Force Reserves in 1988.
The passing of William Anders marks the loss of a pioneering astronaut and a dedicated pilot, leaving a lasting legacy in both space exploration and aviation history.
