Military officials on Wednesday released the identities of all eight people who lost their lives when a B-52 bomber went down in a fiery crash earlier this week at Edwards Air Force Base in Southern California.
According to an official statement, the victims were men ranging in age from 32 to 53. Among the eight were four active duty airmen, one reservist, and three civilians.
Col. Thomas Tauer, commander of the 412th Test Wing at Edwards, paid tribute to those lost, saying, “They were dedicated professionals, beloved family members and irreplaceable teammates.”
The runway where Monday’s crash took place remains closed, though other operations at the base have since resumed. Investigators have not yet pinpointed a cause, and officials warned the full inquiry could take as long as six months to wrap up.
The Boeing B-52 Stratofortress involved in the crash had been flying as part of a test mission connected to a program designed to extend the life of one of the oldest aircraft still serving in the U.S. military fleet. The bomber had been delivered to Edwards in December following upgrades to its radar system, which were carried out at a Boeing facility in San Antonio, Texas.
