On Monday, June 15, at Edwards Air Force Base in Kern County, California, a U.S. Air Force B-52 reportedly crashed shortly after takeoff on the airfield at local 11:20 a.m., PST; or 2:20 p.m. EST.
Initially, there was no word on the condition of the crew, with Edwards Air Force Base simply stating that “emergency crews immediately responded to the scene,” noting that “the situation is ongoing.”
Further, the base noted that the plane is a B-52 Stratofortress.
At 3:48 EST, Edwards Air Force Base has closed its airfield.
Just after 6 p.m. EST, Edwards Air Force Base provided an update, issuing a news release informing the public of the likely tragic nature of the crash, describing it is as “not survivable.”
Noting that the B-52 Bomber was carrying eight people on a routine test mission, the base states that the crash is currently under investigation.
The caption on Facebook adds, “Our thoughts and prayers are with the families and unit members at this time.”
The identities of personnel aboard the crashed bomber have not yet been disclosed.
During a news conference later on June 15, Col. James Hayes, who is the Deputy Commander at 412th Test Wing at Edwards Air Force, began his remarks by saying, “Today, Edwards Air Force Base experienced a horrible tragedy, and we lost eight great Americans. This crash is deemed to be unsurvivable.”
Col. Hayes stated that next of kin were being notified.
Detailing the crash, which occurred during takeoff, Col. Hayes said, “It took off and immediately after takeoff crashed and burst into flames. Our team of first responders snapped into action.”
He added, “At this point, we don’t have any indication as to what the cause was.”
Watch the news conference, here:
Who Were The Victims?
In the afternoon of June 17, all eight crew members were identified by Edwards Air Force Base.
Delivering the announcement was Col. Thomas Tauer, 412th Test Wing Commander, who said, “It is with profound sorrow and a heavy heart that I can now share the names of the eight extraordinary Americans we lost during Monday’s B-52 crash. They were dedicated professionals, beloved family members and irreplaceable teammates.”
The eight crew members of the crashed B-52 were, as follows:
- Col. Gregory Watson, 53, weapon systems officer, Boeing (Air Force reservist, assigned 10th Air Force, Naval Air Station Joint Reserve Base Fort Worth, Fort Worth, Texas), Shreveport, La;
- Lt. Col. Gabriel Estrella, 40, weapon systems officer, Air Force Operational Test and Evaluation Center, Detachment 5, Edwards AFB, Calif;
- Retired Lt. Col. Miles Middleton, 50, pilot, Boeing, Tehachapi, Calif;
- Maj. Alexander Davis, 34, weapon systems officer, 419th Flight Test Squadron, Lancaster, Calif;
- Maj. Robert Dee, 40, pilot, 419th Flight Test Squadron, Edwards AFB, Calif;
- Maj. Brad Hovey, 35, pilot, 419th Flight Test Squadron, Edwards AFB, Calif;
- Jeromy Smith, 32, flight test engineer, 419th Flight Test Squadron, Rosamond, Calif; and
- Christopher Rischar, 41, flight test engineer, JT4 contractor, Lancaster, Calif.
Prior to that announcement, some family members, loved ones, and peers had already begun publicly honoring specific members of the crew who were deceased.
The New York Post shared that Lt. Col. Miles Middleton was the first to be identified, and he is survived by his wife, Pam, and their two children.
A GoFundMe was established by a family friend, who wrote, “Pam Middleton and her two children are facing an unimaginable loss after Pam’s husband, Miles, was tragically killed in the crash of the B-52 at Edwards Airforce base. 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.”
As of the afternoon of Tuesday, June 16, this GoFundMe has already brought in $66,956, and may be contributed to, here.
The second victim to be identified from the crash was DOD Flight Test Engineer Jeromy Douglas Smith, who was memorialized by his father in a moving social media post.
See Jeromy’s father’s post about his son, here:
Lt Colonel Gabriel “Journee” Estrella was remembered on Facebook in a heartbreaking post by his wife, Brianna.
“He died doing what he loved,” wrote Brianna, adding, “This particular test flight was one he had been looking forward to. He told me, ‘It’s a once in a lifetime flight, babe.’”
She also wrote of Estrella:
“He was the most incredible man and loved his family fiercely. He woke up every day excited to go to work. He would tell anyone who would listen that being a Weapons Systems Officer was his dream job, and that he was fortunate enough to do what he loved every single day. He always encouraged the boys to follow their dreams so they, too, could build lives doing what they loved.”
Concluding her powerful post, she wrote, “Our hearts are shattered. He is, and always will be, our hero.”
See her full post, here:
Remembered by a peer, Lt. Col. Greg “Evil” Watson was described as “a truly wonderful human being and an even better leader.”
Further, it was written of Watson that “his family, friends and coworkers and the B-52 community are reeling at this sudden loss.”
See more on Watson, here:
