The eight people killed when a B-52 Stratofortress crashed moments after takeoff at California’s Edwards Air Force Base last week have been identified by military officials including two contractors from Boeing.

The victims were named Wednesday 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, Jeromy Smith, 32 and Christopher Rischar, 41, according to a statement from Edwards Air Force Base

“It is with profound sorrow and a heavy heart that I can now share the names of the eight
extraordinary Americans we lost during Monday’s B-52 crash,” Col. Thomas Tauer, 412th Test Wing
Commander, told workers and families at Edwards AFB. “They were dedicated professionals,
beloved family members and irreplaceable teammates.”

Officials released few immediate details about the victims beyond their roles as Air Force reservists, active duty Airmen, retired personnel, and contractors, but said their families had been notified.

The victims were aboard the nuclear-capable bomber when it plunged to the ground shortly after taking off from the sprawling Mojave Desert installation at about 11:20 a.m. on June 15.

A massive cloud of black smoke appeared in the skies above Kern County after the enormous military jet smashed into the ground shortly after takeoff Monday morning. Debbie Reyes Katz via AP

The crash sent a massive fireball and towering plume of black smoke over the base, located about 100 miles northeast of Los Angeles in Kern County. Images captured by witnesses showed the smoldering wreckage scattered across the desert floor as emergency crews rushed to the scene.

Military officials quickly concluded there were no survivors.

“An Air Force B-52 Stratofortress carrying eight people on a routine test mission crashed today shortly after take-off at 11:20 a.m. Initial indications are that the crash was not survivable,” the base said hours after the disaster.

At a news conference later that day, Col. James Hayes described the crash as “tragic and unsurvivable.”

Hayes said the eight people on board included a mix of uniformed military personnel, government civilians and government contractors who were participating in a routine test mission. The aircraft went down “immediately” after takeoff and the crash was contained within the base, he said.

The cause remains under investigation and officials have cautioned it could take months to determine what brought down the bomber.

“These Airmen were more than coworkers. They were friends, mentors, teammates and valued
members of our Edwards and Air Force family,” Tauer said. “Our immediate focus is supporting the families of the teammates we lost and ensuring that all appropriate resources are available to them during this time of unimaginable loss.”

Before Wednesday’s announcement, only two victims had been publicly identified. Their official identification was confirmed only after the base’s announcement. Earlier, officials told the Post they would not release names until 24 hours after next of kin had been notified.

Middleton, a decorated test pilot and former commander of Edwards’ 419th Flight Test Squadron, was identified by friends and family through a GoFundMe campaign created to support his widow, Pam, and the couple’s two children.

“Pam Middleton and her two children are facing an unimaginable loss after Pam’s husband, Miles, was tragically killed in the crash of the B-52 at Edwards Air Force Base,” the fundraiser said.

Middleton led the 419th Flight Test Squadron from 2016 to 2018. The unit oversees the Global Power Bomber Combined Test Force, which is responsible for testing some of the Air Force’s most powerful aircraft.

Middleton, a decorated test pilot and former commander of Edwards’ 419th Flight Test Squadron, was identified by friends and family through a GoFundMe campaign created to support his widow, Pam, and the couple’s two children. U.S. Air Force photo by Joseph Gocong

“With Miles gone, Pam is now responsible for supporting her family on her own,” the organizer wrote. “The funds raised will help cover immediate expenses and bills, providing some relief as they adjust to this new reality.”

“In addition to daily living costs, as a community we hope to raise funds for the children’s college, so they can look forward to a brighter future despite the heartbreak they are experiencing.”

Civilian flight test engineer Smith was the second victim identified earlier.

The father of two young boys had worked at Edwards for 10 years and had welcomed his second child just four months ago. His wife, Lauren, said she discovered her husband’s plane had crashed by watching television and scrolling social media before officials confirmed his death hours later.

“Not seeing this coming at all kind of flipped our world upside-down,” she said, adding that Smith “died doing what he loves.”

The B-52 Stratofortress has been a cornerstone of the U.S. Air Force since entering service in 1955. Built by Boeing, the long-range bomber can carry up to 70,000 pounds of weapons and fly roughly 8,800 miles without refueling.

Edwards Air Force Base serves as the military’s premier flight test center and conducts hundreds of test missions each year involving some of the nation’s most advanced aircraft.

Officials have not said whether the bomber involved in last week’s crash had recently undergone upgrades or modifications.

The crash is currently under investigation by an Interim Safety Investigation Board, according to military officials. The airfield is closed until further notice.

After the B-52 crash, Edwards AFB leadership issued a statement honoring the eight lost personnel and emphasizing shared grief and the risks of flight testing. They encouraged the entire community to support one another and check in on families, peers, and themselves.

An Emergency Family Assistance Center was quickly opened to provide chaplain services, mental health care, childcare, and legal support, along with access to the 24/7 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline (988) for immediate help.

Edwards Air Force Base, located in the Mojave Desert and operated by the 412th Test Wing, supports about 10,000–11,500 military personnel, civilians, and contractors.