Eight crew members lost in bomber crash remembered in ceremony at Edwards Air Force Base

A memorial ceremony at Edwards Air Force Base in California honored the eight crew members who died on June 15 in a B-52 bomber crash. Speaking at a hangar gathering, Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. Kenneth Wilsbach said test flights are inherently high-risk but crucial for deterrence and operational readiness. The crew and aircraft, callsign Torch 11, were assigned to the 412th Test Wing; the Stratofortress crashed shortly after takeoff. Lt. Col. James McDonald, commander of the 419th Flight Test Squadron, described each loss, including Col. Gregory Watson, 53, a Boeing weapons systems officer and Air Force reservist; Lt. Col. Gabriel Estrella, 40; and retired Lt. Col. Miles Middleton, 50. He also referenced Maj. Alexander Davis, 34; Maj. Robert Dee, 40; Maj. Brad Hovey, 35; and Jeromy Smith, 32. The ceremony focused on the crew’s roles in mentoring, technical expertise, and the test mission’s purpose.