Barksdale, local Mardi Gras community mourn loss of airmen killed in B-52 crash

Barksdale Air Force Base in Louisiana is mourning eight airmen killed in a B-52 Stratofortress crash at Edwards Air Force Base, California, on Monday. Edwards AFB confirmed the deaths on Wednesday morning. Among those with local ties are Col. Gregory Watson, 53, a weapon systems officer who is a Boeing employee and an Air Force reservist assigned to the 10th Air Force at NAS JRB Fort Worth, and Lt. Col. Gabriel Estrella, 40, a weapon systems officer with the Air Force Operational Test and Evaluation Center, Detachment 5, at Edwards. In an internal memo, Gen. S. L. Davis, Commander of Air Force Global Strike Command, and CMSgt. Shawn M. Aiello expressed profound grief, noting the risks of strategic deterrence. Other Edwards crew members include Retired Lt. Col. Miles Middleton, 50; Maj. Alexander Davis, 34; Maj. Robert Dee, 40; Maj. Brad Hovey, 35; Jeromy Smith, 32; and Christopher Rischar, 41. The Krewe of Gemini, a Mardi Gras group with military ties, mourned the crew and extended condolences to Watson and Estrella, who served at Barksdale. Officials in Bossier Parish and Haughton announced flags would be flown at half-staff; the BPPJ would lower its flag from noon today until 8 a.m. Monday.