Edwards B-52 crash: eight crew members identified

Edwards Air Force Base released the names of eight crew members killed when a B-52 Stratofortress crashed shortly after takeoff during a routine test mission. Following a 24-hour waiting period for next-of-kin notifications, the base honored the fallen—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—and said the crash is under investigation by an Interim Safety Investigation Board, with the airfield closed until further notice.