Remembering Torch 11

Welcome,

As most people know, I live and work at Edwards Air Force Base. At 11:20 am, I happened to be with public affairs for the wing because he was briefing the new Test Pilot School class on the dos and don’t of photography on the flight line (as in you are not allowed to take photos). He got a call that an airplane had gone down...the airplane that my spouse was flying. For about 5 minutes I think I blacked out. There was so much smoke, it was impossible to tell exactly which plane it was. I am forever thankful for my new coworkers as we all processed what was happening.

As I posted earlier in the week, living at Edwards is not easy. It’s in the middle of nowhere. Like one of the most remote military bases in the continental United States. To get off the base, it’s 15 miles. The closest hospital is 30 miles away. If you want to go to Costco, Target, or Walmart, you’re driving 35-40 minutes one way. That’s how I put 40K miles on my car last year. When people ask why, it’s because if a plane crashes, it is not in civilization. It is not over millions of people. It is very remote.

The reason for all of that is the Edwards mission is different. We test airplanes. Things that have “never been done” before. New airplanes, modifications, systems, we test it all. The Space Shuttle first landed here.

Every day, I watch dozens of airplanes fly. I’ve flown in some myself, and not once have I really thought: that pilot, engineer, civilian, or contractor is not coming home today. It is easy to forget the mission is dangerous. Maybe it’s all of the safety procedures we go through but I have never been worried. Pilots have casually told me, “Oh, we had an engine out today,” and I wasn’t worried or nervous for them because I knew they weren’t worried about it.

These are our nation’s best. You have to be great and at the top. We really haven’t had a serious crash in a very long time. The last crash we had was in 2009.

So on June 15, when the B-52 crashed, it was horrific. It was the worst thing I have ever seen in my life.

It was friends, neighbors, and colleagues. While Edwards might be one of the largest bases by land, it is one of the smallest communities because when you are in the middle of nowhere, you get to know people. Each of those family members has so much support but that will never bring their loved one back.

I’ve needed to stay offline because the first time I opened up social media, I saw people claiming it was fake, DEI hires, and people using the crash as clout. I couldn’t take it, so I didn’t.

I don’t know what else to say. It is devastating. Tragic. I’ve cried multiple times…for the families…for them…for those mourning…for those who witnessed something so horrific…to those at other bases in test.

That’s all I have to say this week. Thank you for all of the love. Hug your loved ones. Stay safe.

If you would like to donate to the families:

Robert Dee Family Support Fund: https://www.gofundme.com/f/the-robert-dee-family-support-fund?

Honoring Gabe’s Legacy for His Children’s Future: https://www.gofundme.com/f/honoring-gabes-legacy-for-his-childrens-future

Miles Middleton: https://www.gofundme.com/f/support-for-pam-middletons-family

Jeromey Smith: https://www.gofundme.com/f/help-for-a-grieving-mother-and-her-boys

Christopher Rischar: https://www.gofundme.com/f/support-for-christopher-hustler-rischars-family

Greg Watson: https://www.gofundme.com/f/help-greg-watsons-family-through-this-tragedy

Memorial Patch & Support Foundation

B‑52 Memorial Patch (100% of profits from this patch will be split evenly between the eight families) https://threadandsteel.com/.../b-52-memorial-patch...

Fallen Wings Foundation (split evenly between families) https://www.fallenwingsfoundation.org/support/buff-support

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