TWENTYNINE PALMS – The Marine Corps has named a pilot killed when his F/A-18C fighter jet crashed in the Southern California desert.
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A Marine Corps F/A-18C Hornet warplane crashed late on Thursday during a training mission in California, killing the pilot, the Marine Corps said in a statement on Friday.
Air Station Miramar, located about 15 miles north of downtown San Diego and once the site of the U.S. Navy’s “Top Gun” aviator training program, is now home to the Marine Corps’ 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing.
The name of the pilot is being withheld until next-of-kin has been notified.
“My heart goes out to our Marine’s family as we supported them through this hard time”, said Maj.
Officials said the cause of the crash is under investigation.
Norton joined the Marine Corps in 2005.
Maj. Mark Wise, commanding general of the Third Marine Aircraft Wing, also offered his condolences to the fallen Marine’s loved ones.
He is a recipient of the Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal, as well as the Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal with gold star.
In joint congressional testimony in April, the senior naval leadership overseeing aviation, Vice Adm. Paul Grosklags, Marine Corps Lt. Gen. Jon Davis and Rear Adm. Michael Manazir, reiterated Paxton’s contention that planes and funds are running short.
Budget cuts, problems getting spare parts and other issues have sharply reduced the number of training hours that Marine Corps pilots are flying.
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“I do not think we’re unsafe, but we’re not as proficient as we should be”, he said. Last summer, F/A-18 pilots hit their “low ebb” of 8.8 flight hours per month per pilot, which was ‘unacceptable, ‘ he said.
