Identities of 8 crew members who died in B-52 crash are released
Investigators are examining possible flight-control, engine and structural failures as the Air Force says the 8 crew members died in the crash.
- On Monday, June 15, 2026, a B-52 Stratofortress crashed shortly after takeoff from Edwards Air Force Base in California, killing all eight crew members aboard during a routine test mission.
- The aircraft was conducting a routine test mission supporting the Radar Modernization Program, designed to upgrade the B-52 fleet with modernized radar systems to extend operational life into the 2050s.
- Edwards Air Force Base officials released the eight victims' names on Wednesday, with 412th Test Wing Commander Col. Thomas Tauer calling them 'irreplaceable teammates' and 'dedicated professionals, beloved family members.'
- The U.S. Air Force's Accident Investigation Board has commenced a formal inquiry into the crash, with officials estimating the investigation could take up to six months to determine the cause.
- While the B-52 remains the 'backbone of America's bomber force,' Mitchell Institute director Doug Birkey warned that aging aircraft require significant risk management, noting structural failure cannot be ruled out.
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B-52 Test Crash — Air Force Mum
Eight airmen and contractors died when a B-52 crashed during a radar upgrade test, and the Air Force still has not said why. Quick Take The Air Force said the B-52 was on a **routine test mission** tied to the Radar Modernization Program.[6][3] Officials said the crash happened **shortly after takeoff** and was **not survivable**.[6][3]...
Remembering those aboard the doomed B-52
Paulette Shires, the principal violist in the Tehachapi Symphony Orchestra, couldn't have known that when she attended last week's rehearsal with fellow violist Miles Middleton, a retired US Air Force lieutenant colonel, that she would never see her friend again.
US military identifies all 8 victims killed in B-52 bomber crash at Edwards Air Force Base: Details
The US military has identified all eight victims who lost their lives in a fiery crash of a B-52 bomber that occurred on Monday at California's Edwards Air Force Base. The bomber was part of a modernization programme. Investigators are probing the cause.
8 Victims Identified After Deadly B-52 Crash at California Air Force Base
Edwards Air Force Base in California released the names of the eight people killed when a B-52 Stratofortress crashed June 15 during a routine test mission. Among the victims were active duty members of the U.S. Air Force, Boeing employees, and a government contractor. Col. Gregory Watson, 53, was a weapon systems officer working for Boeing and an Air Force reservist. Retired Lt. Col. Miles Middleton, 50, was a retired pilot working for Boein…
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