{"id":2614844,"date":"2026-06-16T22:01:00","date_gmt":"2026-06-17T02:01:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/first-victim-identified-in-horrific-b-52-crash-military-pilot-leaves-behind-wife-and-two-children\/"},"modified":"2026-06-16T22:03:52","modified_gmt":"2026-06-17T02:03:52","slug":"first-victim-identified-in-horrific-b-52-crash-military-pilot-leaves-behind-wife-and-two-children","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/first-victim-identified-in-horrific-b-52-crash-military-pilot-leaves-behind-wife-and-two-children\/","title":{"rendered":"First Victim Identified in Horrific B-52 Crash \u2013 Military Pilot Leaves Behind Wife and Two Children"},"content":{"rendered":"<aside class=\"mashsb-container mashsb-main mashsb-stretched\"><div class=\"mashsb-box\"><div class=\"mashsb-count mash-medium\" style=\"&quot;\"><div class=\"counts mashsbcount\">32<\/div><span class=\"mashsb-sharetext\">SHARES<\/span><\/div><div class=\"mashsb-buttons\"><a class=\"mashicon-facebook mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservativenewsdaily.net%2Fbreaking-news%2Ffirst-victim-identified-in-horrific-b-52-crash-military-pilot-leaves-behind-wife-and-two-children%2F\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Facebook<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-twitter mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?text=&amp;url=https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/?p=2614844&amp;via=ConservNewsDly\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Twitter<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-subscribe mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"#\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Subscribe<\/span><\/a><div class=\"onoffswitch2 mash-medium mashsb-noshadow\" style=\"display:none\"><\/div><\/div>\n            <\/div>\n                <div style=\"clear:both\"><\/div><\/aside>\n            <!-- Share buttons by mashshare.net - Version: 4.0.47--><p>The content discusses a tragic aircraft accident involving a B-52 bomber at Edwards Air Force Base, California, resulting in the death of eight individuals. Among those identified are lt. Col. Miles Middleton, a former commander of the 419th Flight Test Squadron, and civilian test engineer Jeromy Smith. Middleton was remembered for his leadership and service testing aircraft like the B-52, which was on a radar modernization test when it crashed shortly after takeoff, in a tragic and unsurvivable event.<\/p>\n<p>Family members, including Middleton&#8217;s wife Pam and their children, are grieving and have launched a GoFundMe campaign to support them financially. The community and military family are also expressing condolences and concern over the harassment faced by Pam Middleton on <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/why-this-average-american-is-voting-for-donald-trump\/\" title=\"Why This Average American Is Voting for Donald Trump\">social media<\/a>, where insensitive comments have appeared.<\/p>\n<p>Lauren Smith, the widow of Jeromy Smith, shared that her husband loved <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/ukraine-seeks-no-fly-zone-after-russia-allegedly-attacks-europes-largest-nuclear-plant\/\" title=\"Ukraine Seeks No-Fly Zone After Russia Allegedly Attacks Europe\u2019s Largest Nuclear Plant\">bomber planes<\/a> and was dedicated to his family and work, leaving behind two young sons. The crash&#8217;s cause may take months to determine, and officials have indicated the event was catastrophic, with the plane going down immediately after takeoff. Additional details highlight the aircraft&#8217;s importance and the profound loss felt by the families and the broader military community.  <\/p>\n<p class=\"readmore\">\n    <button onclick=\"showReadMore()\" id=\"readmorebtn\">Read more&#8230;<\/button>\n<\/p>\n<hr id=\"line\">\n<span id=\"more\"><br \/>\n<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC \"-\/\/W3C\/\/DTD HTML 4.0 Transitional\/\/EN\" \"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/TR\/REC-html40\/loose.dtd\"><br \/>\n<?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><html><body><\/p>\n<section> \t\t\t\t<script>console.log(\"ad slot (AC1)\")<\/script><script>console.log(\"ad slot (IC1)\")<\/script><script>console.log(\"ad slot (IC2)\")<\/script><script>console.log(\"ad slot (IC3)\")<\/script><script>console.log(\"ad slot (IC4)\")<\/script><\/p>\n<p>There are holes in the lives of families as wide and black as the scar at Edwards Air Force Base in California where a B-52 crashed Monday, killing all eight people aboard.<\/p>\n<p>Although Air Force officials have not yet identified those on board, family members have identified Lt. Col. Miles Middleton as the pilot, while civilian test engineer Jeromy Smith was also killed.<\/p>\n<p>Middleton commanded the 419th Flight Test Squadron from 2016 to 2018, according to the <a href=\"https:\/\/nypost.com\/2026\/06\/16\/us-news\/first-victim-of-b-52-crash-at-edwards-air-force-base-identified\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">New York Post<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>The 419th oversees the Global Power Bomber Combined Test Force, which tests aircraft such as the B-52.<\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\">\n<p dir=\"ltr\" lang=\"en\">Miles Middleton has been identified as the pilot killed in yesterday\u2019s crash near Edwards Air Force Base. Miles was the 419th FLTS Commander prior to becoming a contractor for Boeing.<\/p>\n<p>Yesterday our Air Force family lost eight warriors at Edwards Air Force Base. Though their\u2026 <a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/HTtvKRoDZU\">pic.twitter.com\/HTtvKRoDZU<\/a><\/p>\n<p>\u2014 Military Support (@MilitaryCooI) <a href=\"https:\/\/x.com\/MilitaryCooI\/status\/2066878127200956486?\">June 16, 2026<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p><script async src=\"https:\/\/platform.x.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script><\/p>\n<p>A <a href=\"https:\/\/www.gofundme.com\/f\/support-for-pam-middletons-family?lang=en_US&#038;utm_id=97757_v0_s00_e0_tv2_a1demo0jsybt1z&#038;fbclid=IwY2xjawSeNSlleHRuA2FlbQIxMQBicmlkETEzdU9iczVKU0dKU0RuM2Npc3J0YwZhcHBfaWQQMjIyMDM5MTc4ODIwMDg5MgABHmVUmLYiEowbPf9AecrGDsQOohAjfDjqmgcjdA7wBa8RAvp-oRlcl1CqmsW0_aem_RzQ0Uf8Duk36mS1Lfjj0Tw\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">GoFundMe<\/a> was created for the family Middleton left behind.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cPam Middleton and her two children are facing an unimaginable loss after Pam\u2019s husband, Miles, was tragically killed in the crash of the B-52 at Edwards Airforce base,\u201d sponsor Melissa Lynch wrote.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cAs a family friend, I\u2019ve witnessed firsthand the strength and resilience Pam has shown, but the road ahead is filled with uncertainty and challenges,\u201d she wrote, citing the costs ahead for education for the children.<\/p>\n<p>A post from <a href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/RedhomeAviation\/posts\/the-former-commander-of-the-419th-flts-ltc-miles-middleton-retired-was-one-of-th\/1605457108255830\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Redhome Aviation<\/a> noted that Pam Middleton faces another issue \u2014 hate.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cWhen searching for information on her husband on an <a href=\"https:\/\/amzn.to\/3YuVZYV\" >official social media page<\/a>, Pam was met with awful comments from people that had no good advice to offer the wife of a B-52 test pilot. Away from home, she was searching for who she could contact for info, since she had not been reached otherwise. What used to be breaking news on nationals news channels is now available on the internet and legacy news even faster, but now comes with comments from the ill informed, abusive, or otherwise obtuse people,\u201d the page posted.<\/p>\n<p>Col. James Hayes said the bomber went down \u201cimmediately\u201d after takeoff and that the crash was \u201ctragic and unsurvivable,\u201d according to the New York Post.<\/p>\n<p>Hayes said knowing the cause of the crash could be months away.<\/p>\n<p>Smith, a civilian with the Department of War, worked at Edwards for 10 years, his widow Lauren Smith said in a statement d by his sister-in-law Lindsey Smith, according to <a href=\"https:\/\/www.cnn.com\/2026\/06\/15\/us\/b-52-crash-edwards-california\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">CNN<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>Lauren Smith must now raise her two sons \u2014 one a 2-year-old and one a 4-month-old \u2014 alone.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cHe has been involved in several missions and dedicated his time doing what he loved,\u201d Lauren Smith\u2019s statement said.<\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\">\n<p dir=\"ltr\" lang=\"en\">The B-52 is one of the most impressive things humanity has ever built.<\/p>\n<p>God bless every soul involved. There are inferior craft, and the Stratofortress isn\u2019t one of them. There are planes that, when they go down, I frankly expect it.<\/p>\n<p>When one of these bad boys crashes, there is\u2026<\/p>\n<p>\u2014 Gator Gar (@gatorgar) <a href=\"https:\/\/x.com\/gatorgar\/status\/2066607962043379893?\">June 15, 2026<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p><script async src=\"https:\/\/platform.x.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script><\/p>\n<p>\u201cHe d a special love for bomber planes, second to his family. He cherished being a father to two young boys\u2026 He was also an amazing, devoted husband. We will all miss him very much,\u201d her statement said.<\/p>\n<p>As noted by <a href=\"https:\/\/www.usatoday.com\/story\/news\/nation\/2026\/06\/16\/b-52-bomber-crash-air-force-updates\/90569294007\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">USA Today<\/a>, the plane was on a radar modernization test at the time of the crash.<\/p>\n<div style=\"background-color: #f7f7f7; color: #171717; display: flex;font-size: 16px;font-weight: 600;line-height: 1.5;margin: 24px 0;padding: 18px 20px 18px 30px;text-align: left;\">\n<div style=\"align-self: stretch;border-left: 3px solid #171717;flex-shrink: 0;padding-left: 20px;\"><\/div>\n<p><a style=\"text-decoration: none;\" href=\"https:\/\/www.google.com\/preferences\/source?q=https:\/\/www.westernjournal.com\/\">Choose The Western Journal as your preferred source on Google and never miss reporting that defends truth, protects freedom, and advances Western civilization<\/a><\/div>\n<p style=\"border: 1px solid #f5f5f5; padding: 16px;\">Advertise with The Western Journal and reach millions of highly engaged readers, while supporting our work. <a href=\"https:\/\/www.westernjournal.com\/advertise-us\/?wj_source=article\">Advertise Today<\/a>.<\/p>\n<div class=\"entry-submit-correction inner-content\">\n<div class=\"correction-form\">\n<form style=\"display: none;\">\n<div class=\"sc-name-field\"> \t\t\t\t\t\t<label>* Name<\/label> \t\t\t\t\t\t<br \/> \t\t\t\t\t\t<input type=\"text\" name=\"name\" required> \t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n<div class=\"sc--field\"> \t\t\t\t\t\t<label>* <\/label> \t\t\t\t\t\t<br \/> \t\t\t\t\t\t<input type=\"text\" name=\"\" required> \t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n<p> \t\t\t\t\t<label>* Message<\/label> \t\t\t\t\t<br \/> \t\t\t\t\t<textarea name=\"message\" required><\/textarea> \t\t\t\t\t \t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n<div class=\"required-message\" style=\"display: none; padding-bottom: 15px;\">* All fields are required.<\/div>\n<p> \t\t\t\t\t<input type=\"submit\" value=\"Submit\" onclick=\"event.preventDefault(); firefly_sc();\"> \t\t\t\t\t \t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n<div class=\"firefly-sc-confirm\" style=\"display: none;\">Success!<\/div>\n<\/p><\/form>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p> \t\t<script> \t\t\tfunction firefly_sc() { \t\t\t\tif( typeof window.captchaPublicKey == typeof undefined ){ \t\t\t\t\tconsole.error('window.captchaPublicKey is not defined'); \t\t\t\t} \t\t\t\tgrecaptcha.execute( window.captchaPublicKey, { action: 'submit_correction' } ).then( function( token ) { \t\t\t\t\tvar opts = { \t\t\t\t\t\taction:    'firefly_sc_submit', \t\t\t\t\t\tname:      document.querySelector( '.entry-submit-correction [name=\"name\"]' ).value, \t\t\t\t\t\t:     document.querySelector( '.entry-submit-correction [name=\"\"]' ).value, \t\t\t\t\t\tmessage:   document.querySelector( '.entry-submit-correction [name=\"message\"]' ).value, \t\t\t\t\t\tpost_id:   firefly_post_id, \t\t\t\t\t\tcap_token: token \t\t\t\t\t}  \t\t\t\t\tvar inputs = [ 'name', '', 'message' ];  \t\t\t\t\tfor( var i = 0; i < inputs.length; i++ ) if( ! 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The victims&#8217; identities are pending, but family members confirm Lt. Col. Miles Middleton as the pilot<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":2614845,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_mo_disable_npp":"","fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.westernjournal.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/ben-net-30.jpg","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[33651],"tags":[81190,81277,39954,68263,81278],"class_list":["post-2614844","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-the-western-journal","tag-aviation-tragedy","tag-b-52-crash","tag-family-loss","tag-military-accident","tag-pilot-tribute"],"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.westernjournal.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/ben-net-30.jpg","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2614844","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2614844"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2614844\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2614848,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2614844\/revisions\/2614848"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2614845"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2614844"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2614844"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2614844"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}