The Marine Corps has identified the pilot who was killed in an F/A-18C Hornet crash near Twentynine Palms, Calif., the service announced today.
Maj. Richard Norton, 36, died following the crash of his Hornet during a pre-deployment training exercise near the Marine Air Ground Combat Center at Twentynine Palms.
He was assigned to Marine Fighter Attack Squadron (VMFA) 232, Marine Aircraft Group 11 out of Marine Corps Air Station Miramar, Calif. part of the 3rd Marine Air Wing (MAW).
“The single-seat aircraft departed from MCAS Miramar to perform a close air support mission as a part of Integrated Training Exercise 5-16, a pre-deployment training exercise taking place at MAGCC,” according to the statement.
The cause of the crash is under investigation.
“My heart goes out to our Marine’s family as we support them through this difficult time,” said Maj. Gen. Mark Wise, commanding general of 3rd MAW said in the Saturday statement.
Norton, from Arcadia, Calif., commissioned into the service in 2005. He had deployed once to Afghanistan in 2012 in support of Operation Enduring Freedom and several times to Japan.
The following is the complete July 30, 2016 statement from the Marine Corps.
MARINE CORPS AIR STATION MIRAMAR, California (July 30, 2016) – A Third Marine Aircraft Wing pilot, based out of Marine Corps Air Station Miramar, California, was killed as a result of an F/A-18C Hornet crash during a training mission in the vicinity of Marine Air Ground Combat Center Twentynine Palms, also in California, at approximately 10:30 p.m. (PDT), July 28, 2016. Maj. Richard Norton, a pilot with Marine Fighter Attack Squadron (VMFA) 232, Marine Aircraft Group 11, stationed at MCAS Miramar, died as a result of the crash. The single-seat aircraft departed from MCAS Miramar to perform a close air support mission as a part of Integrated Training Exercise 5-16, a pre-deployment training exercise taking place at MAGCC. “My heart goes out to our Marine’s family as we support them through this difficult time,” said Maj. Gen. Mark Wise, commanding general of 3rd MAW. Norton, 36, a native of Arcadia, California, commissioned in the Marine Corps March 25, 2005. He previously deployed to Afghanistan in 2012 in support of Operation Enduring Freedom and deployed to Japan multiple times as part of the Unit Deployment Program. His personal awards include the Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal and the Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal with gold star (in lieu of second award). “Losing Maj. Norton is a tremendous loss to the MAG-11 Team,” said Col. William Swan, commanding officer of MAG-11. “He was one of the best and brightest Hornet pilots our nation had to offer – our thoughts and prayers go out to his family.” The cause of the crash is currently under investigation.
