Fallen airman gets honor escort on return to Goldsboro

A U.S. Air Force officer from Goldsboro who died in a military aircraft crash last month will soon be laid to rest in North Carolina.

Major Alexander "SMO" Davis, 34, died on June 15 in a B-52 bomber aircraft crash that claimed the lives of all eight people on board. The plane crashed shortly after takeoff from Edwards Air Force Base in California during a routine test mission, Air Force officials said. 

The North Carolina Patriot Guard on Tuesday escorted Davis' remains from Raleigh-Durham International Airport to the Seymour Funeral Home in Goldsboro.

From there, he will be laid to rest with full military honors on Friday, July 24, at 2 p.m. at Greenleaf Memorial Park after a funeral service at Saint Mary Roman Catholic Church.

Davis was an North Carolina State University graduate and considered Goldsboro his hometown after his family moved there when he was a young child in 1994, according to his obituary. He attended Saint Mary School and Charles B. Aycock High School, where he competed in football and track and field.  

"His leadership and drive were evident in his youth, as he earned the rank of Eagle Scout in 2009. Upon graduation, he answered the call to serve his nation through an Air Force Reserve Officers’ Training Corps scholarship to North Carolina State University," his family said.

Davis earned a commission as second lieutenant in the Air Force after graduating from NC State in 2015, later serving as a weapon systems officer with the 69th Bomber Squadron at Minot Air Force Base in North Dakota.  

During his time in the Air Force, Davis deployed overseas to Al Udeid Air Base in Qatar, where he flew combat missions. He later deployed to Anderson Air Force Base in Guam and Naval Support Facility Diego Garcia, a British–American joint base in the British Indian Ocean Territory.

Davis then transferred to the 419th Flight Test Squadron at Edwards Air Force Base in support of a B-52 modernization program. He was promoted to the rank of major in April 2025.

"Alex was a loving brother, son, grandson, nephew, cousin and friend. He cherished every moment spent with loved ones. Even when deployments kept him from family gatherings, he would call in to say hello to everyone, doing all he could to be there in spirit," his family said. "He will be remembered for his selflessness, unwavering courage and the positive impact he left on everyone fortunate enough to cross his path. Alex will be deeply missed by all who knew him."

One month later, the cause of the crash remains unclear. 

NBC News spoke to Air Force Col. James Hayes, who said the initial fact-gathering can take up to 30 days, and then the accident investigation board will review the crash.

"It can take six months before the information is gathered and released to families and the public," he said. 

Along with Davis, the other crewmembers killed in the June crash were:

• Col. Gregory Watson, 53, weapon systems officer, Boeing (Air Force reservist, assigned 10th Air Force, Naval Air Station Joint Reserve Base Fort Worth, Fort Worth, Texas), Shreveport, La.
• Lt. Col. Gabriel Estrella, 40, weapon systems officer, Air Force Operational Test and Evaluation Center, Detachment 5, Edwards AFB, Calif.
• Retired Lt. Col. Miles Middleton, 50, pilot, Boeing, Tehachapi, Calif.
• Maj. Alexander Davis, 34, weapon systems officer, 419th Flight Test Squadron, Lancaster, Calif.
• Maj. Robert Dee, 40, pilot, 419th Flight Test Squadron, Edwards AFB, Calif.
• Maj. Brad Hovey, 35, pilot, 419th Flight Test Squadron, Edwards AFB, Calif.
• Jeromy Smith, 32, flight test engineer, 419th Flight Test Squadron, Rosamond, Calif.
• Christopher Rischar, 41, flight test engineer, JT4 contractor, Lancaster, Calif.

Edwards Air Force Base held a flyover and memorial service on June 29 to honor the crew.

“They were dedicated professionals, beloved family members and irreplaceable teammates," Col. Thomas Tauer, 412th Test Wing Commander, said in June. "Our thoughts, prayers and deepest sympathies are with their families, loved ones and fellow Airmen, Air Force civilians and mission partners affected by this tragedy.”

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