(Updated by Radio Iowa) – The Pentagon has announced an Iowa native is among the eight people killed in Monday’s B-52 plane crash at an Air Force base in California.
U-S Air Force Major Brad Hovey, who was born in Algona, was a pilot with a Test Squadron at Edwards Air Force Base in the Mojave Desert. Military officials say it may take up to six months to determine why the plane he was in crashed during a test flight.
Hovey graduated from Adel-DeSoto-Minburn High School in 2009 according to a Facebook post from the school’s alumni association. In 2014, he earned an aerospace engineering degree from Iowa State University.
A long list of Iowa officials have issued statements offering condolences to Hovey’s family. Governor Reynolds says as Iowans honor Major Hovey’s life and service, they are reminded of the incredible sacrifice demanded of every American who chooses to serve our country.
Hovey was one of six Air Force officers on the plane along with two contractors for Boeing, the company that manufactures the B-52. The Pentagon says a modernized radar system had been installed in the plane at a Boeing plant in Texas and was part of a testing program aimed at keeping the fleet of B-52s operating through 2050. In a statement, Iowa Governor Kim Reynolds, Wednesday, said:
“Along with every Iowan, Kevin and I mourn the loss of Maj. Brad Hovey and we offer our sincere condolences and prayers for his family,” said Governor Kim Reynolds. “Again, we are reminded of the incredible sacrifice demanded of every American who chooses to serve our country. As we honor Maj. Hovey’s life and service, let us never forget the cost of our freedom.”
The other 7 victims included:
- Col. (select) Gregory Watson, 53, weapon systems officer, Boeing (Air Force reservist, assigned 10th Air Force, Naval Air Station Joint Reserve Base Fort Worth, Fort Worth, Texas), Shreveport, La.
- Lt. Col. Gabriel Estrella, 40, weapon systems officer, Air Force Operational Test and Evaluation Center, Detachment 5, Edwards AFB, Calif.
- Retired Lt. Col. Miles Middleton, 50, pilot, Boeing, Tehachapi, Calif.
- Maj. Alexander Davis, 34, weapon systems officer, 419th Flight Test Squadron, Lancaster, Calif.
- Maj. Robert Dee, 40, pilot, 419th Flight Test Squadron, Edwards AFB, Calif.
- Jeromy Smith, 32, flight test engineer, 419th Flight Test Squadron, Rosamond, Calif.
- Christopher Rischar, 41, flight test engineer, JT4 contractor, Lancaster, Calif.
