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5 Marines killed after Osprey crash in Southern California Desert identified

The five Marines died when their Osprey aircraft crashed during training on Wednesday afternoon near Glamis in Imperial County.

GLAMIS, Calif. — The U.S. Marine Corps has identified the five servicemembers who died when their Osprey aircraft crashed Wednesday afternoon in the Southern California desert near Glamis in Imperial County:

Cpl. Nathan E. Carlson, 21, of Winnebago, Illinois, a Tiltrotor Crew Chief.

Credit: U.S. Marines
Carlson served as a Tiltrotor Crew Chief. He served as a United States Marine for 3 years.

Capt. Nicholas P. Losapio, 31, of Rockingham, New Hampshire, an MV-22B Pilot.

Credit: U.S. Marines
Losapio was assigned to Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron 364 where he served as an MV-22B Pilot. He served as U.S. Marine for 8 years and 9 months.

Cpl. Seth D. Rasmuson, 21, of Johnson, Wyoming, a Tiltrotor Crew Chief.

Credit: U.S. Marines
Rasmuson was assigned to Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron 364 where he served as a Tiltrotor Crew Chief. He served for 3 years and 2 months.

Capt. John J. Sax, 33, of Placer, California, an MV-22B Pilot.

Credit: U.S. Marines
Sax was assigned to Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron 364 where he served as an MV-22B Pilot. He served as a U.S. Marine for 5 years and 8 months.

Lance Cpl. Evan A. Strickland, 19, of Valencia, New Mexico, a Tiltrotor Crew Chief.

Credit: U.S. Marines
Strickland was assigned to Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron 364 where he served a Crew Chief. He served as a Marine for 1 year and 7 months.

All five marines were based at Marine Corps Air Station in Camp Pendleton.

“It is with heavy hearts that we mourn the loss of five Marines from the Purple Fox family” said Lt. Col. John C. Miller, Commanding Officer of VMM-364. 

“This is an extremely difficult time for VMM-364 and it is hard to express the impact that this loss has had on our squadron and its families. Our primary mission now is taking care of the family members of our fallen Marines and we respectfully request privacy for their families as they navigate this difficult time. We appreciate all the prayers and support from the strong extended Purple Fox family and want them to know that more information will be forthcoming on how to help.”

All five Marines on board were confirmed deceased according to a statement released Thursday morning from the 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing.

The MV-22B Osprey belonged to the 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing based at Camp Pendleton in North San Diego County and went down at 12:25 p.m. during training, Maj. Mason Englehart, spokesman for the 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing told the AP.  

Maj. Gen. Bradford J. Gering, commanding general of 3rd MAW issued the
following statement, "We mourn the loss of our Marines in this tragic
mishap. Our hearts go out to their families and friends as they cope with
this tragedy."

The crash happened near State Route 78 and Coachella Canal Road, about 115 miles east of San Diego.

WATCH RELATED: Marine MV-22B Osprey crashes in Southern California desert (June 2022)

Most recently, four Marines were killed when a Marine Corps Osprey crashed on March 18 near a Norwegian town in the Arctic Circle while participating in a NATO exercise.

The MV-22B Osprey is a tiltrotor aircraft that can operate as a helicopter or a turboprop aircraft made by Bell-Boeing according to Naval Air Systems Command (NAVAIR).

Its development was marked by deadly crashes, including an April 2000 accident in Arizona that killed 19 Marines.

    

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