The crash of a B-52 at Edwards Air Force Base in California has left families facing losses that cannot be measured by official statements, investigation timelines, or wreckage reports.
Eight people were killed on Monday when the bomber went down shortly after takeoff. Air Force officials have not yet publicly identified everyone aboard, but family members have named Lt. Col. Miles Middleton as the pilot. Civilian test engineer Jeromy Smith was also among those killed.
Middleton led the 419th Flight Test Squadron from 2016 to 2018, according to the New York Post. The squadron is tied to the Global Power Bomber Combined Test Force, which works on testing aircraft, including the B-52.
After Middleton’s death, a GoFundMe was set up to help his wife, Pam Middleton, and their two children.
“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,” fundraiser organizer Melissa Lynch wrote.
Lynch said she has known the family personally and described Pam Middleton as strong and resilient, while noting that the months and years ahead will bring serious uncertainty. The fundraiser also points to future expenses, including education costs for the children.
The B-52 is one of the most impressive things humanity has ever built.
God bless every soul involved. There are inferior craft, and the Stratofortress isn’t one of them. There are planes that, when they go down, I frankly expect it.
When one of these bad boys crashes, there is…
— Gator Gar (@gatorgar) June 15, 2026
But grief has not been the only burden placed on Middleton’s family.
A Facebook post from Redhome Aviation said Pam Middleton encountered cruel comments while searching online for information about her husband after the crash.
“When searching for information on her husband on an official social media page, Pam was met with awful comments from people that had no good advice to offer the wife of a B-52 test pilot,” the post said.
The page said she was away from home and trying to figure out whom to contact because she had not yet been reached. It also pointed to the harsh reality of major tragedies unfolding online in real time, where families can end up seeing speculation, abuse, and uninformed commentary before they receive clear answers.
Col. James Hayes said the B-52 went down “immediately” after takeoff and described the crash as “tragic and unsurvivable,” according to the New York Post. He also said it could take months before investigators determine what caused it.
Smith, a civilian employee with the Department of War, had worked at Edwards for 10 years, his widow, Lauren Smith, said in a statement shared by his sister-in-law, Lindsey Smith, according to CNN.
Miles Middleton has been identified as the pilot killed in yesterday’s crash near Edwards Air Force Base. Miles was the 419th FLTS Commander prior to becoming a contractor for Boeing.
Yesterday our Air Force family lost eight warriors at Edwards Air Force Base. Though their… pic.twitter.com/HTtvKRoDZU
— Military Support (@MilitaryCooI) June 16, 2026
Lauren Smith is now left to raise their two young sons, ages 2 years old and 4 months old.
“He has been involved in several missions and dedicated his time doing what he loved,” her statement said.
She said her husband had a deep love for bomber planes, but that his family came first.
“He cherished being a father to two young boys,” she said. “He was also an amazing, devoted husband. We will all miss him very much.”
According to USA Today, the B-52 was taking part in a radar modernization test when it crashed. For investigators, the focus now turns to finding out what went wrong. For the families, the harder work has already begun: living with the empty space left behind.
