First victim of B-52 Stratofortress crash identified — as friend reveals how family is coping
The first victim of the catastrophic crash of a B-52 Stratofortress at Edwards Air Force Base has been identified as Lt. Col. Miles Middleton, a decorated test pilot.
“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,” a family friend said.
Middleton had commanded the 419th Flight Test Squadron at the base from 2016 to 2018. The squadron oversees the Global Power Bomber Combined Test Force, which is responsible for testing some of the military’s most powerful aircraft.
Photos released by the base showed Middleton accepting the squadron guidon from Col. Scott Cain, commander of the 412th Operations Group, during a change-of-command ceremony in 2016.
A GoFundMe painted a heartbreaking picture of the challenges facing Middleton’s widow, Pam, and the couple’s two children — a boy and a girl.
“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,” the friend wrote.
As of Tuesday morning, the appeal had raised a little over $25,000 of its $45,000 goal.
Edwards has not formally identified any of the eight victims. The Post has reached out to the facility for comment.
The appeal concluded with a plea for support.
“Together, we can show Pam and her family that they are not alone, and that their community stands beside them.”
Middleton was among eight people who died after the bomber crashed shortly after takeoff from Edwards at about 11:20 a.m. Monday. The Boeing B-52 Stratofortress is an American nuclear-capable subsonic jet-powered strategic bomber.
A massive plume of black smoke billowed over the remote desert installation in eastern California after the aircraft slammed into the ground and erupted into flames.
Military officials later confirmed the crash was “not survivable.”
“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 in a statement.
Col. James Hayes told reporters the aircraft went down “immediately” after takeoff and that the victims included military personnel, civilian government employees and contractors.
Hayes described the tragedy as “tragic and unsurvivable,” adding that investigators are only beginning to piece together what went wrong and that it could take months to determine the cause.
The bomber was conducting a routine test flight when it crashed within the boundaries of Edwards, a storied desert base that serves as the Air Force’s premier flight-testing center.
The aircraft involved was one of the Air Force’s aging but heavily upgraded B-52 bombers, a fleet first introduced in 1955 and built by Boeing. The planes can carry up to 70,000 pounds of weapons and fly roughly 8,800 miles without refueling.
A B-52 equipped with an upgraded radar system arrived at Edwards from Boeing’s facility in San Antonio last December as part of a sweeping modernization effort designed to keep the bombers flying for decades to come.
In the wake of Monday’s crash, condolences poured in from across California.
“My thoughts are with the victims, their families, and the entire Edwards Air Force Base community impacted by this tragic incident,” Gov. Gavin Newsom wrote on social media. “Grateful to the first responders and emergency crew currently on the ground.”
“Heather and I are praying for everyone involved in today’s B-52 crash at Edwards Air Force Base, especially the crew, their families, and the first responders on scene,” US Rep. Jay Obernolte (R-Calif.) added.
As investigators search for answers, Middleton’s loved ones are left trying to navigate life without the husband, father and Air Force leader who they say was taken far too soon.
