The Brief Edwards Air Force Base officials have released the names of the eight military, civilian, and contractor crew members killed in Monday's devastating test flight accident. The Boeing B-52 Stratofortress dropped sharply and crashed halfway down the runway shortly after takeoff while supporting a critical radar modernization test program. The base airfield remains closed as an Interim Safety Investigation Board begins a probe that officials say could take up to six months to complete.



Edwards Air Force Base officials on Wednesday released the identities of the eight crew members killed Monday when a B-52 Stratofortress crashed shortly after takeoff during a routine test mission.

What we know:

Officials said the B-52 bomber took off shortly before noon on Monday under clear skies, heading south-west, but slammed into the ground about halfway down the 15,000-foot runway.

Aerial footage revealed compact wreckage with virtually nothing left of the aircraft, leading officials to determine there were no survivors.

PREVIOUS COVERAGE: Air Force B-52 bomber crashes in Kern County, 8 presumed dead: Officials

The flight was supporting a radar modernization program designed to integrate an Active Electronically Scanned Array (AESA) system to keep the decades-old fleet flying through 2050.

Following a 24-hour waiting period after next-of-kin notifications, officials identified the eight fallen Team Edwards members as:

Col. Gregory Watson , 53, weapon systems officer, Boeing (Air Force reservist)

Lt. Col. Gabriel Estrella , 40, weapon systems officer, Air Force Operational Test and Evaluation Center

Retired Lt. Col. Miles Middleton , 50, pilot, Boeing

Maj. Alexander Davis , 34, weapon systems officer, 419th Flight Test Squadron

Maj. Robert Dee, 40 , pilot, 419th Flight Test Squadron

Maj. Brad Hovey, 35 , pilot, 419th Flight Test Squadron

Jeromy Smith , 32, flight test engineer, 419th Flight Test Squadron

Christopher Rischar, 41, flight test engineer, JT4 contractor

What we don't know:

The exact cause of the crash has not been determined.

While aviation experts point to potent

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