Air Force identifies 8 crew members killed in B-52 Stratofortress crash at Edwards Air Force Base
Officials on Wednesday identified the eight people who perished in Monday's deadly U.S. Air Force B-52 Stratofortress crash, noting that their focus "remains on supporting the families impacted and our installation team members."
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A spokesperson for Edwards Air Force Base and Air Force Plant 42 said the eight victims included a mix of military personnel, government civilians and contractors.
The fallen were identified as: Lt. Col. Gabriel Estrella, 40, a weapons system officer; Maj. Alexander Davis, 34, a weapons system officer; Maj. Robert Dee, 40, a 419th Test Squadron pilot; Maj. Brad Hovey, 35, a 419th Test Squadron pilot; Jeromy Smith, 32, a flight test engineer from the 419th Flight Test Squadron; Christopher Rischar, 41, a contractor and flight test engineer; Lt. Col. Miles Middleton (Ret.), 50, a Boeing pilot; and Col. Gregory Watson, 53, a weapons officer for Boeing and Air Force reservist — whose promotion to colonel was recently confirmed by the Air Force.
US AIR FORCE B-52 BOMBER CRASHES SHORTLY AFTER TAKEOFF AT EDWARDS AIR FORCE BASE IN CALIFORNIA
The Cold War-era bomber crashed shortly after takeoff around 11:20 a.m. local time Monday at Edwards Air Force Base in Kern County, California, Fox News Digital previously reported.
The crew was conducting a routine test mission to support the Air Force's sweeping modernization program for the B-52 fleet, which includes evaluating a new radar system, upgraded avionics and new Rolls-Royce engines designed to keep the bomber operational into the 2050s.
As the Air Force pauses flight test operations at the base, the investigation is expected to focus heavily on the aircraft's takeoff, looking for potential engine failures or controllability issues.
The probe will also likely examine maintenance records, especially after Smith's widow told local outlet KTLA the plane was experiencing issues on the Friday before the fatal crash, causing the flight to be delayed.
The Air Force has indicated the full investigation could take up to six months to complete.
Fox News Digital’s Morgan Phillips contributed to this report.
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I am just an average American. My teen years were in the late 70s and I participated in all that that decade offered. Started working young, too young. Then I joined the Army before I graduated High School. I spent 25 years in, mostly in Infantry units. Since then I've worked in information technology positions all at small family owned companies. At this rate I'll never be a tech millionaire. When I was young I rode horses as much as I could. I do believe I should have been a cowboy. I'm getting in the saddle again by taking riding lessons and see where it goes.
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