The names of all eight people who died in the crash of a B-52 bomber at Edwards Air Force Base, which straddles Kern, San Bernardino and Los Angeles counties, were released Wednesday.
According to the Air Force, the B-52 Stratofortress was on a routine test mission when it crashed shortly after takeoff at about 11:20 a.m. Monday.
Col. Thomas Tauer, 412th Test Wing commander, said those who died “were dedicated professionals, beloved family members and irreplaceable teammates.”
“Our thoughts, prayers and deepest sympathies are with their families, loved ones and fellow Airmen, Air Force civilians and mission partners affected by this tragedy,” Tauer said.
Those who died were:
— Col. Gregory Watson, 53, weapon systems officer, Boeing, Shreveport, Louisiana;
— Lt. Col. Gabriel Estrella, 40, weapon systems officer, Air Force Operational Test and Evaluation Center, Detachment 5, Edwards AFB;
— Retired Lt. Col. Miles Middleton, 50, pilot, Boeing, Tehachapi, California;
— Maj. Alexander Davis, 34, weapon systems officer, 419th Flight Test Squadron, Lancaster;
— Maj. Robert Dee, 40, pilot, 419th Flight Test Squadron, Edwards AFB;
— Maj. Brad Hovey, 35, pilot, 419th Flight Test Squadron, Edwards AFB;
— Jeromy Smith, 32, flight test engineer, 419th Flight Test Squadron, Rosamond; and
— Christopher Rischar, 41, flight test engineer, Lancaster.
During a news conference Monday afternoon, Col. James Hayes, deputy commander of the 412th Test Wing at Edwards Air Force Base, said the aircraft was conducting a local test sortie in support of a radar modernization program when it crashed immediately after takeoff.
“Our team of first responders snapped into action, and immediately cordoned off the area and took the appropriate action to start putting out the flames,” Hayes said.
Base officials established an emergency operations center and wing operations center to coordinate the response and recovery effort, according to Hayes.
“After reviewing the footage of the crash, it was deemed that this was an unrecoverable crash and unsurvivable,” Hayes said. “At that point, we went into the notification process.”
Jeromy Smith, a civilian flight test engineer, was a husband and father of two young children. According to a GoFundMe page created to support Smith’s wife, Lauren, one of the couple’s two boys is just 4 months old, while the other is 2 1/2 years old.
“Our entire family is devastated by this great loss. My brother-in-law was an incredible husband and an amazing father to their boys,” Lindsey Smith wrote on the page.
Middleton, a test pilot, was also married with two children, according to a GoFundMe page created on behalf of his family.
“As a family friend, I’ve witnessed firsthand the strength and resilience Pam has shown, but the road ahead is filled with uncertainty and challenges,” Melissa Lynch wrote on the page. “With Miles gone, Pam is now responsible for supporting her family on her own.”
Gov. Gavin Newsom and Acting Gov. Monique Limón issued a statement Wednesday mourning the loss of the eight crew members.
“We join the country in mourning the loss of these eight brave Americans,” Newsom and Limon said. “Their service, dedication, and commitment to our nation’s defense will not be forgotten. As we grieve this tragedy, we honor their lives, their contributions to our country, and the families, friends, colleagues, and communities who now carry this profound sorrow. California stands with the men and women of Edwards Air Force Base, the United States Air Force, and all those affected by this devastating accident.”
The B-52 Stratofortress has been a cornerstone of the Air Force’s bomber fleet since entering service in 1955. The long-range aircraft is capable of carrying up to 70,000 pounds of weapons and is generally operated by a crew of five.
The last crash at the base was in 1992, when two crew members were killed.