The US Air Force B-52 Radar Program Had Exactly Two Test Aircraft. A June 15 Crash Destroyed One at Edwards AFB and Killed All Eight People Aboard

On June 15, a B-52 radar modernization test flight ended in tragedy when one of the USAF’s two radar test aircraft crashed at Edwards AFB, California, killing all eight crew members aboard. The program’s goal is to keep the Air Force’s 75 Cold War-era bombers flying and fighting until at least the 2050s. According to a June 17 statement from the 412th Test Wing Public Affairs Office, the crew included Col. Gregory Watson, Lt. Col. Gabriel Estrella, retired Lt. Col. Miles Middleton, Maj. Alexander Davis, Maj. Robert Dee, Maj. Brad Hovey, Jeromy Smith, and Christopher Rischar. Defense One reported the Air Force plans to resume testing using the second aircraft.