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ST. GEORGE — An Air Force major from St. George was identified as one of eight crew members killed when an Air Force Osprey aircraft crashed last week off southwestern Japan.
Air Force Special Operations Command said Tuesday it had identified the eight crew members of the CV-22B Osprey that crashed Nov. 29 during a training mission. Among them was U.S. Air Force Maj. Eric V. Spendlove, 36, of St. George, who was a residency trained flight surgeon and medical operations flight commander assigned to the 1st Special Operations Squadron, 353rd Special Operations Wing, Kadena Air Base, Japan.
"We're deeply saddened to learn about the tragic passing of U.S. Air Force Maj. Eric V. Spendlove from St. George, Utah," Gov. Spencer Cox said in a social media post. "Maj. Spendlove served this nation with honor, and our thoughts and prayers are with his loved ones during this difficult time."
The Air Force said Monday it had located the remains of six of the eight crew members and recovered three sets of remains. The two lost crew members were unlikely to have survived and the search for their remains is ongoing, officials said Tuesday.
"We owe them everything," President Joe Biden said in a statement. "Jill and I are praying for the families and friends who lost a loved one in this terrible accident."
The lost crew members include:
- U.S. Air Force Maj. Jeffrey T. Hoernemann, 32, of Andover, Minnesota, was a CV-22 instructor pilot and officer in charge of training, assigned to the 21st Special Operations Squadron, 353rd Special Operations Wing, Yokota Air Base, Japan.
- U.S. Air Force Maj. Eric V. Spendlove, 36, of St. George, Utah, was a residency-trained flight surgeon and medical operations flight commander assigned to the 1st Special Operations Squadron, 353rd Special Operations Wing, Kadena Air Base, Japan.
- U.S. Air Force Maj. Luke A. Unrath, 34, of Riverside, California, was a CV-22 pilot and flight commander assigned to the 21st Special Operations Squadron, 353rd Special Operations Wing, Yokota Air Base, Japan.
- U.S. Air Force Capt. Terrell K. Brayman, 32, of Pittsford, New York, was a CV-22 pilot and flight commander assigned to the 21st Special Operations Squadron, 353rd Special Operations Wing, Yokota Air Base, Japan.
- U.S. Air Force Tech. Sgt. Zachary E. Lavoy, 33, of Oviedo, Florida, was a medical operations flight chief assigned to the 1st Special Operations Squadron, 353rd Special Operations Wing, Kadena Air Base, Japan.
- U.S. Air Force Staff Sgt. Jake M. Turnage, 25, of Kennesaw, Georgia, was a flight engineer assigned to the 21st Special Operations Squadron, 353rd Special Operations Wing, Yokota Air Base, Japan.
- U.S. Air Force Senior Airman Brian K. Johnson, 32, of Reynoldsburg, Ohio, was a flight engineer assigned to the 21st Special Operations Squadron, 353rd Special Operations Wing, Yokota Air Base, Japan.
- U.S. Air Force Staff Sgt. Jacob "Jake" M. Galliher, 24, was a native of Pittsfield, Mass. His remains were the first to be found.
