PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN) — Eight people are dead after a B-52 Bomber crashed at Edwards Air Force Base in Southern California. Among the dead, 32-year-old Jeromy Smith, a Gresham native on board during the fatal crash.
Jeromy has worked for the Department of Defense for 10 years, being part of the 419 Flight Test Squadron based out of Edwards Air Force Base. Acting as a flight test engineer, he was part of the crew testing new additions to the B-52.
Jeromy leaves behind a wife and two children, one of whom is only a few months old. Lauren Smith, the wife of Jeromy, says she is overwhelmed with grief in the days since the crash. Lauren said she only found out about the crash after seeing it on the news, and knew it was her husband’s plane.
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“I got a phone call from a friend of mine saying hey there was a plane crash. I think that’s your husband’s plane,” Lauren said. “I turned on the news and saw my husband’s plane, or what’s left of it…We just celebrated our 4-year anniversary on June 11th.”…