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A Navy F/A-18E Super Hornet pilot was killed in a crash on Wednesday about 40 miles north of Naval Air Weapons Station China Lake in California, the service has announced.

The name of the pilot is being withheld until 24 hours after the next of kin have been notified, said Lt. Cmdr. Lydia Bock, a spokeswoman for Strike Fighter Wing Pacific. Recovery efforts are ongoing.

The pilot served with Strike Fighter Squadron 151, based at Naval Air Station Lemoore, California.

“The Navy mourns the loss of one of our own and our hearts go out to the family and friends affected by this tragedy,” Bock said.

Jeff Schogol
Jeff Schogol

Jeff Schogol is a senior staff writer for Task & Purpose. He has covered the military for 15 years, with previous bylines at the Express-Times in Easton, Pennsylvania, Stars & Stripes, and Military Times. You can email him at schogol@taskandpurpose.com, direct message @JeffSchogol on Twitter, or reach him on WhatsApp and Signal at 703-909-6488. Contact the author here.