A B-52 bomber crashed at Edwards Air Force Base in California on Monday, killing all 8 people on board. The victims included four active duty airmen, a reservist, and three civilians who were part of a team working to keep the bomber flying.
Victims Identified
The victims were identified as Col. Gregory Watson, 53; Retired Lt. Col. Miles Middleton, 50; Lt. Col. Gabriel Estrella, 40; Maj. Alexander Davis, 34; Maj. Robert Dee, 40; Maj. Brad Hovey, 35; Jeromy Smith, 32; and Christopher Rischar, 41.
Col. Thomas Tauer, commander of the 412th Test Wing at Edwards, said the victims were "dedicated professionals, beloved family members and irreplaceable teammates."
Investigation Underway
The cause of the crash is still under investigation, and officials say it could take up to six months to determine what happened. The airfield where the plane crashed remains closed, but other base operations have resumed.
The B-52 that crashed was part of a test program aimed at making the 65-year-old bomber fleet operable through at least 2050. The plane had arrived at Edwards in December after undergoing modernization work at Boeing’s facility in San Antonio.
Original reporting: Texarkana Gazette — read the source article.
