2 El Toro-Based Marines Killed in Nevada Crash
The pilot and bombardier-navigator were killed Monday when a Marine A6-E fighter plane crashed near the Fallon Naval Air Station, Marine officials said.
The pilot was identified as Capt. Blake H. Smith, 27, of Boone, Iowa, and the bombardier-navigator was identified as 1st Lt. David A. Riegel, 25, of Chagrin Falls, Ohio.
The aircraft crashed at 7:50 p.m., two miles west of the Bravo 19 bombing range, about 20 miles south of Fallon during a routine training mission, officials said.
The aircraft and airmen were part of the Marine All Weather Attack Squadron-121 of the Marine Third Aircraft Wing at El Toro Marine Corps Air Station.
Gunnery Sgt. Teg Cauley, a spokeswoman at the El Toro base, said an investigation was under way to determine the cause of the crash.
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