Air Force Identifies 8 Heroes Lost in Deadly B-52 Crash at Edwards Base

Eight airmen and civilians were killed when a B-52 Stratofortress crashed shortly after takeoff from Edwards Air Force Base in California. The incident occurred about 11:20 a.m. Pacific on June 15 during a routine training flight, and Edwards remained closed as recovery and analysis proceeded. The crew consisted of five active-duty Air Force personnel and three civilian contractors. The deceased are Lt. Col. Gabriel Estrella; Maj. Alexander Davis; Maj. Robert Dee; Maj. Brad Hovey; Col. Greg Watson; retired Lt. Col. Miles Middleton; Jeromy Smith; and Christopher Rischar. Col. Thomas Tauer, commander of the 412th Test Wing, issued a somber tribute and indicated the cause was under investigation. The loss marks the deadliest B-52 incident since 1982 and underscores the risks of training missions, with ongoing safety reviews across bases amid a recent rise in aviation mishaps within the armed forces.