Last week, the U.S. Navy honored the two pilots who died when their fighter plane crashed near Mount Rainier. Both were 31-year-old trailblazers from California whose careers were full of bravery, hard work, and amazing accomplishments.
The EA-18G Growler plane that Naval mission Officer Lt. Cmdr. Lyndsay P. Evans and Naval Aviator Lt. Serena N. Wileman were flying crashed as they were practicing east of Mount Rainier, killing both of them. The “Zappers” are the name of the Electronic Attack Squadron 130 plane. The main office was at Naval Air Station Whidbey Island in Washington State.
Officials confirmed that the crash that happened last Tuesday was part of a normal training drill. The next day, search crews worked hard to find the wreckage in a rough, wooded area of the Cascade Range at around 6,000 feet, even though the weather was bad. It was really hard to get anything back because of the way the land was set up. After announcing that the two pilots were dead, Navy officials formally switched their priority from rescue to recovery on Sunday.
Cmdr. Timothy Warburton, the head of VAQ-130, gave a somber speech to remember the officers who had died. “We are very sad to have lost two of our favorite Zappers,” he said. Taking care of the families of our fallen pilots and keeping our sailors and the Growler community safe are our top priorities right now. We thank you for your ongoing help in making sure the body is found safely.
Lt. Cmdr. Evans was already a legend in naval aviation when he was born in Palmdale, California. She was part of the all-female crew that flew over Super Bowl LVII on February 12, 2023. That day was the fiftieth anniversary of the first women entering the U.S. Navy flight school in 1973. Evans’ work inspired a new set of women to go for positions in military aviation by showing them that they could go higher and had more choices.
In 2018, Lt. Serena Wileman from California obtained her commission and became a member of the Zapper squadron. She got a variety of medals and decorations when she was in the military, like the Combat Action Ribbon, the Navy Unit Commendation Medal, and the National Defense Service Medal. Her peers said she worked hard and followed the Navy’s rules of honor, bravery, and loyalty.
Washington Governor Jay Inslee said that the Navy asked the state’s National Guard to help keep multiple traffic control points around the accident scene safe all the time. Inslee agreed to the request, which made sure that the recovery efforts could go forward safely and securely.
We are still attempting to determine exactly what made the crash happen. Navy authorities haven’t said what they think happened yet, but they have made it clear that they will look at every part of the event very closely to make sure it doesn’t happen again.
The EA-18G Growler has been an important part of U.S. Navy operations since it came out in 2008. The Growler is a better version of the F/A-18F Super Hornet that is developed for electronic warfare. It has a pilot and an electronic warfare officer on board, which allows it suppress enemy communications and radar. This makes things easier for the troops on the field. The Growler fleet has helped with important operations all across the world, and each plane costs about $67 million.
The Navy claimed in a statement that the EA-18G Growler is “the Navy’s first line of defense in hostile environments and represents the most advanced technology in airborne electronic attack.”
There have been a number of memorials to the pilots that died. Senator Patty Murray from Washington said she was really disturbed to hear the news. While on vacation on Whidbey Island, she met Lt. Cmdr. Evans. Murray praised her for being bold and willing to fight for her country. “She was a leader who made history.” She then said, “I’m so proud of both of these women for their amazing careers.” It’s apparent that their service has made a difference and made life simpler for the women who will come after them. She also sent her condolences to Lt. Wileman’s family.
The deaths of Evans and Wileman have had a tremendous effect on the Navy community. These women were not only superb leaders, but they also taught other women who aspired to become combat pilots how to be good leaders. Their service showed a strong balance of skill, initiative, and commitment that still inspires teammates and the next generation.
The sailors on Whidbey Island are sad over the loss. The deaths of two young pilots are a sad reminder of how dangerous it is for troops to learn. The “Zappers” squadron has always been proud of how close-knit their culture is. The rescue teams are now trying to fix problems and save as much of the jet as they can. Officials say this will take a long time because the ground is so hard.
One thing is certain: people will remember Lt. Cmdr. Lyndsay Evans and Lt. Serena Wileman for the good things they did in their lives, not for how they died. Wileman’s incredible commitment and dedication were great examples of what naval history is all about. Evans, on the other hand, will be remembered as a trailblazer who helped women in aviation break down boundaries.
All of them stood for courage, going forward, and putting others first, which are all important traits for warriors. It’s very unfortunate that they died, but their legacy will go on. The Navy and the country will never forget what they did.
