{"id":740,"date":"2026-06-18T19:02:47","date_gmt":"2026-06-18T19:02:47","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/sanfranciscomovingguide.com\/?p=740"},"modified":"2026-06-18T19:02:47","modified_gmt":"2026-06-18T19:02:47","slug":"air-force-releases-the-names-of-the-8-people-in-the-deadly-b-52-crash-at-edwards","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/sanfranciscomovingguide.com\/?p=740","title":{"rendered":"Air Force releases the names of the 8 people in the deadly B-52 crash at Edwards"},"content":{"rendered":"
<\/div>

Authorities have released the identities of the eight people who were killed when a U.S. Air Force B-52 Stratofortress crashed after taking off from Edwards Air Force Base on Monday.\u00a0<\/p>

Read more Calif. city brings back controversial tactic to clean up stinky beach<\/a><\/p><\/div>

\"\"<\/div>

The Boeing B-52 heavy bomber went down just before 11:30 a.m. during a \u201croutine test mission,\u201d according to a news release from the base. The people on the aircraft were identified as: Col. Gregory Watson, 53; Lt. Col. Gabriel Estrella, 40; retired Lt. Col. Miles Middleton, 50; Maj. Alexander Davis, 34; Maj. Robert Dee, 40; Maj. Brad Hovey, 35; flight test engineer Jeromy Smith, 32; and flight test engineer Christopher\u00a0Rischar, 41.\u00a0<\/p><\/div>

<\/div>

The group consisted of weapon systems officers, pilots and flight test engineers, according to the base\u2019s Facebook post.\u00a0Watson and\u00a0Middleton were also both Boeing employees. Col. Thomas Tauer, commander of the 412th Test Wing, called the group \u201cdedicated professionals, beloved family members and irreplaceable teammates.\u201d<\/p><\/div>

\u201cOur thoughts, prayers and deepest sympathies are with their families, loved ones and fellow Airmen, Air Force civilians and mission partners affected by this tragedy,\u201d Tauer said in a statement.<\/p><\/div>

It\u2019s unclear what led up to the crash, which is under investigation by an Interim Safety Investigation Board. The airfield is closed \u201cuntil further notice,\u201d the base said on Facebook.<\/p><\/div>

<\/div>

According to flight tracking data viewed by PBS, the plane did a near 180-degree turn and subsequently plunged to the ground\u00a0at almost a mile a minute. That speed is about 10 times faster than normal, the news outlet reported.\u00a0<\/p><\/div>

The B-52 first entered service with the Air Force in 1955. The largest bomber in the Air Force\u2019s fleet, it is expected to keep flying through 2050.<\/p><\/div>

One of the victims, Rischar, had worked for the base for 10 years, his wife, Rebecca Rischar, told the Associated Press. The couple was married for 17 years, and they have two children, who are 15 years old and 14 years old, the outlet reported.\u00a0<\/p><\/div>

<\/div>

\u201cOur marriage is not just for this life here on Earth but for eternity, so we are sealed together,\u201d she told AP News.\u00a0<\/p><\/div>

Several GoFundMe pages have also surfaced for the families, including one for Smith\u2019s family. According to the fundraiser page, created by Smith\u2019s sister-in-law, he is survived by his wife and two sons, who are only 2.5 years and 4 months old.\u00a0<\/p>

Read more Congratulations, the Reflecting Pool is now a swamp<\/a><\/p><\/div>

Smith\u2019s wife, Lauren Smith, told KBAK-TV that \u201che died doing what he loved.\u201d Lauren said the two of them celebrated their wedding anniversary just days before the crash happened. When she turned on the news, she said she knew it was her husband\u2019s plane that went down.<\/p><\/div>

\u201cI went the whole day just hoping and praying that he was OK,\u201d Lauren told the outlet.\u00a0<\/p><\/div>

<\/div>

The fundraiser for her family has raised more than $50,000 out of its $125,000 goal as of Wednesday afternoon.\u00a0<\/p><\/div>

\n
\"image\"<\/figure>\n<\/div>

The Bay Area’s best free newsletter.<\/div><\/h2>
Stay informed, and entertained.<\/div><\/div><\/div>