Phoenix-area man among 5 Marines killed in aircraft crash near Japan
A Phoenix-area man was among the five Marines who have been declared dead after their refueling plane collided with a fighter jet last week off Japan’s southern coast.
In this aerial photo, Japan's Coast Guard ship is seen at sea during a search and rescue operation for missing crew members of the U.S. Marine refueling plane and fighter jet off Muroto, Kochi prefecture, southwestern Japan, Thursday, Dec. 6, 2018. A Marine refueling plane and a fighter jet crashed into the Pacific Ocean off Japan's southwestern coast after a midair collision early Thursday, and rescuers found one of the seven crew members in stable condition while searching for the others, officials said. The U.S. Marine Corps said that the crash involved an F/A-18 fighter jet and a KC-130 refueling aircraft during regular training after the planes took off from their base in Iwakuni, near Hiroshima in western Japan. (Kyodo News via AP)
(Kyodo News via AP)
PHOENIX — A Phoenix-area man was among the five Marines who were declared dead after their refueling plane collided with a fighter jet last week off Japan’s southern coast.
Staff Sgt. Maximo A. Flores, 27, was a Surprise native, the U.S. Marines Corps announced Wednesday. He was declared dead on Tuesday after the Dec. 6 crash south of Shikoku island.
Flores served nine years in the Marines. He had received one Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal, the Humanitarian Service Medal and a Marine Corps Good Conduct Medal with one bronze star. He is survived by his wife.
The other Marines were 38-year-old Lt. Col. Kevin R. Herrmann of New Bern, North Carolina; Maj. James M. Brophy, 36, of Staatsburg, New York; 21-year-old Cpl. Daniel E. Baker of Tremont, Illinois and Cpl. William C. Ross, 21, of Hendersonville, Tennessee.
“It is with heavy hearts that we announce the names of our fallen Marines,” U.S. Marine Corps Lt. Col. Mitchell T. Maury said in a statement.
“They were exceptional aviators, Marines, and friends whom will be eternally missed. Our thoughts and prayers remain with their families and loved ones at this extremely difficult time.”
Arizona Gov. Doug Ducey ordered flags at all state buildings to be lowered to half-staff from sunrise to sunset on Wednesday in honor of Flores.
“The hearts of Arizonans are heavy today after hearing of the loss of (Flores),” Ducey said in a statement.
“My prayers go out to his family and loved ones as they mourn during this difficult time. Arizona is grateful for Staff Sergeant Flores’ service and dedication to defending our country.”
Ducey said flags would also be at half-staff for the day of interment, which has not been set.
The crew members were aboard a KC-130 Hercules refueling aircraft that collided with an F/A-18 Hornet during regular training before crashing into the sea.
Search and recovery operations ended after finding only one survivor, who was aboard the fighter jet. The survivor has not been identified.
The circumstances of the crash are under investigation.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
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