Officials at Laughlin Air Force Base, Texas, have identified the pilot who was killed in a T-38 Talon crash Monday as Capt. Paul Barbour.
Barbour, of Van Nuys, California, was a 32-year-old instructor pilot with the 87th Flying Training Squadron. He also was the air crew flight equipment flight commander with the 47th Operations Support Squadron. He is survived by his spouse, parents and sister.
In a release Wednesday, Laughlin also identified the other pilot in the crash as Capt. Joshua Hammervold, also an instructor pilot with the 87th. Hammervold was injured, treated at a local hospital and released in good condition Tuesday.
Barbour and Hammervold’s T-38 crashed about 4 p.m. Monday, about 14 miles northwest of the base near Spur 454 and U.S. 90 in Del Rio, Texas.
Laughlin officials on Tuesday announced all flying operations would be temporarily suspended through the weekend in the aftermath of the crash.
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“Tragic events like this are difficult for everyone ― family, friends, co-workers, supervisors and our entire Air Force,” Col. Charlie Velino, 47th Flying Training Wing commander, said in the release. “Every day, our pilots take a risk as they step into the cockpit, and every day they operate with the utmost skill, professionalism and dedication to train the next generation of flying airmen and to ensure the safety of this great nation.”
The Air Force is still investigating the cause of the crash.
“Rest assured, we are doing everything we can to support the investigation and prevent future incidents,” Velino said.
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Stephen Losey is the air warfare reporter for Defense News. He previously covered leadership and personnel issues at Air Force Times, and the Pentagon, special operations and air warfare at Military.com. He has traveled to the Middle East to cover U.S. Air Force operations.
