Eight Lives Lost in B-52 Crash Identified by U.S. Military

The U.S. military has confirmed the identities of the eight personnel who tragically lost their lives in a B-52 Stratofortress crash shortly after takeoff at Edwards Air Force Base in California.

The deceased include:

• Col. Gregory Watson, 53, a weapon systems officer with Boeing and an Air Force reservist from Shreveport, Louisiana.
• Lt. Col. Gabriel Estrella, 40, a weapon systems officer with the Air Force Operational Test and Evaluation Center at Edwards.
• Retired Lt. Col. Miles Middleton, 50, a Boeing pilot from Tehachapi, California.
• Maj. Alexander Davis, 34, a weapon systems officer with the 419th Flight Test Squadron from Lancaster, California.
• Maj. Robert Dee, 40, a pilot with the 419th Flight Test Squadron at Edwards.
• Maj. Brad Hovey, 35, also a pilot with the 419th Flight Test Squadron at the base.
• Jeromy Smith, 32, a flight test engineer with the 419th Flight Test Squadron from Rosamond, California.
• Christopher Rischar, 41, a flight test engineer and JT4 contractor from Lancaster, California.

Col. Thomas Tauer expressed condolences, stating, "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." The investigation into the cause of the crash is ongoing.

Reported by HarborBeat based on WMAR-2 News (source).