{"id":3356,"date":"2026-06-18T00:49:30","date_gmt":"2026-06-18T00:49:30","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blog.cedritech.com\/?p=3356"},"modified":"2026-06-18T00:49:30","modified_gmt":"2026-06-18T00:49:30","slug":"identities-of-8-crew-members-who-died-in-b-52-crash-are-released","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blog.cedritech.com\/?p=3356","title":{"rendered":"Identities of 8 crew members who died in B-52 crash are released"},"content":{"rendered":"

The identities of the eight crew members onboard a U.S. Air Force B-52 bomber\u00a0that\u00a0crashed near Edwards Air Force Base\u00a0on June 15 have been released by the military.<\/p>\n

“These Airmen were more than coworkers. They were friends, mentors, teammates and valued members of our Edwards and Air Force family,” Col. Thomas Tauer, 412th Test Wing Commander, said in a statement released on Wednesday, June 17. “They were dedicated professionals, beloved family members and irreplaceable teammates.”<\/p>\n

The aircraft, a long-haul B-52 Stratofortress, crashed after taking off on a test mission in support of a radar modernization program, the military base previously said.<\/p>\n

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Its crew consisted of both uniformed personnel and civilians, officials said.<\/p>\n

“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.<\/p>\n

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The Air Force has released the identities of eight crew members killed when a B-52 Stratofortress crashed near Edwards Air Force Base during a June 15 test mission.<\/p>\n

Col. Gregory Watson was one of the crew members onboard.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

(Edwards Air Force Base)<\/p><\/div>\n<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

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Jeromy Smith was one of eight crew members onboard a United States Air Force B-52 bomber that crashed near Edwards Air Force Base on June 15, 2026.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

(Edwards Air Force Base)<\/p><\/div>\n<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

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Lt. Col. Gabriel Estrella was one of eight crew members onboard a United States Air Force B-52 bomber that crashed near Edwards Air Force Base on June 15, 2026.<\/div>\n

(Edwards Air Force Base)<\/p><\/div>\n<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n

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Air Force releases names of 8 crew members killed in B-52 crash<\/h2>\n
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The Air Force has released the identities of eight crew members killed when a B-52 Stratofortress crashed near Edwards Air Force Base during a June 15 test mission.<\/p>\n

Col. Gregory Watson was one of the crew members onboard.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

(Edwards Air Force Base)<\/p><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

Edwards Air Force Base crash victims<\/h2>\n

The U.S. Air Force identified the following victims of the June 15 plane crash:<\/p>\n

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    Air Force Col. Gregory Watson, a 53-year-old weapon systems officer from Shreveport, La., who worked for Boeing<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/li>\n

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    Lt. Col. Gabriel Estrella, a 40-year-old weapon systems officer, Air Force Operational Test and Evaluation Center, Detachment 5, Edwards AFB, Calif.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/li>\n

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    Retired Lt. Col. Miles Middleton, 50, pilot, Boeing, Tehachapi, Calif.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/li>\n

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    Maj. Alexander Davis, 34, weapon systems officer, 419th Flight Test Squadron, Lancaster, Calif.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/li>\n

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    Maj. Robert Dee, 40, pilot, 419th Flight Test Squadron, Edwards AFB, Calif.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/li>\n

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    Maj. Brad Hovey, 35, pilot, 419th Flight Test Squadron, Edwards AFB, Calif.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/li>\n

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    Jeromy Smith, 32, flight test engineer, 419th Flight Test Squadron, Rosamond, Calif.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/li>\n

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    Christopher Rischar, 41, flight test engineer, JT4 contractor, Lancaster, Calif.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

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