Memorial Established at Barksdale Air Force Base to Honor TORCH 11 Crew.

Barksdale Air Force Base has established a memorial dedicated to the crew of TORCH 11, creating a place for remembrance, reflection, and respect for those who made the ultimate sacrifice in service to their nation.

The memorial honors the eight airmen who lost their lives when a B-52 Stratofortress, callsign TORCH 11, crashed shortly after takeoff from Edwards Air Force Base, California, during a routine test mission supporting the Radar Modernization Program. The U.S. Air Force described the accident as unrecoverable and unsurvivable.

Among those remembered are Col. Gregory Watson, 53, and Lt. Col. Gabriel Estrella, 40, both weapon systems officers with strong ties to the Air Force community.

The tribute serves as a lasting reminder of the crew’s dedication, service, and sacrifice, while offering a place where friends, family, fellow airmen, and community members can pay their respects.

We remember them.

We honor them.

Their legacy will never be forgotten.