A 36-year-old man from Arcadia, serving as a wing pilot in the U.S. Marine Corps, was killed Thursday during a training mission in the vicinity of the Marine Air Ground Combat Center at Twentynine Palms.
Maj. Richard Norton's single-seat F/A-18C Hornet departed from Marine Corps Air Station Miramar to perform a close air support mission as a part of a pre-deployment training exercise, the base reported.
The cause of the crash is currently under investigation. "My heart goes out to our Marine's family, as we support them through this difficult time," said Maj. Gen. Mark Wise, commanding general of 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing.
Norton was commissioned in the Marine Corps on March 25, 2005 and was previously deployed in Afghanistan in 2012, in support of Operation Enduring Freedom. He was also deployed to Japan multiple times as a part of the Unit Deployment Program.
"Losing Major Norto is a tremendous loss to the MAG-11 Team," said Col. William Swan, commanding officer of MAG-11. "He was one of the best and brightest Hornet pilots our nation had to offer. Our thoughts and prayers go out to his family."
