Forum: F-16 News

Candler native dies in F-16 jet crash

WNC man training at Air Force site in Utah
By Mark Barrett • June 24, 2009 04:08 PM

CANDLER — Capt. George-Bryan Houghton, a Candler native and Enka High School graduate, has died in a crash of his U.S. Air Force jet in Utah, the Air Force confirmed Wednesday.

The Air Force on Tuesday said that the pilot of an F-16 fighter jet died in a crash late Monday night while on a training mission in the Utah Test and Training Range in the state's western desert. They identified Houghton as the pilot Wednesday, although Houghton's father had already told the Citizen-Times and other news media that he had been notified of Houghton's death.

George Houghton said he received a telephone call early Tuesday that no parent wants to hear: George-Bryan “GB” Houghton died in the crash.

The Air Force said in a statement Wednesday that Houghton was part of a a formation of four F-16s "flying a close-air-support mission that involved training with ground forces."

A board of military officials will convene to determine the cause of the incident.

"Every time we fly a training or a combat mission, the safety of our people is a top priority," said Col. Scott Dennis, commander of the 388th Fighter Wing that Houghton was a part of.

"We lost an irreplaceable member of our Air Force. We will do all we can to determine the cause of the mishap to ensure we are doing everything possible to keep our military members free from harm," Dennis said in a press conference Tuesday.

The incident is the second time the Houghton family has received bad news about a son in the military. George-Bryan Houghton's younger brother, Mark-Daniel, is still recovering from injuries he suffered in a helicopter crash in Afghanistan, where he was an Air Force rescuer for downed pilots.

The family's third son, Patrick, is a student at the Air Force Academy.

George-Bryan Houghton had wanted to fly practically all of his life and was looking forward to being deployed to Afghanistan soon, his father said Tuesday.

“I think it was his second-grade teacher who called (his mother) and said, ‘I think all he wants to do is draw airplanes,'” George Houghton said.

George-Bryan Houghton, who would have turned 29 on Independence Day, knew the risks involved in his job and why he was taking them.

He told the Citizen-Times in a 2003 interview that he liked “the freedom, the ability to go in any dimension at any speed” that flying provides. “I've come to terms with the danger involved. I understand the risk, and I still fly anyway.”

He said the events of September 11, 2001, had “given my training a purpose.”

Houghton's father said his son “had such a sense of duty to God and country” — and to his two brothers. “If you fought one, you fought them all.”

Houghton “knew it was a dangerous profession he was in. We all did,” his father said.

Larry Fowler, a retired chief master sergeant in the Air Force who was second in command at Enka High's Air Force Junior ROTC program, said Houghton “really stood out. He was very quiet, an exceptional student, the kind of kid that every teacher would love to have in their classroom.”

Fowler said he put Houghton on the program color guard as a freshman, a rare honor for students at that grade level, and that Houghton finished high school as program corps commander.

“He just took to it,” Fowler said of Houghton. Houghton also was an Eagle Scout.

The aircraft crashed at 10:25 p.m. Monday and was assigned to the 388th Fighter Wing at Hill Air Force Base, which is located near Ogden, Utah.

The cause of the crash is not known. Rhonda Elmore of the base's public affairs office said the F-16 was destroyed on impact.

The crash site is about 35 miles south of Wendover, Utah, near the Utah-Nevada state line.

Houghton was married and had no children. Funeral arrangements have not yet been announced.

Source: http://www.citizen-times.com/apps/pbcs. ... 40316/1250

Here's to ICE.

God be with your family as you're with Him.

Sawadee, my friend.

Bodizzle, why are you so concerned with what tail number it was?

Because he may have worked on that aircraft if he was previously at Hill.

89-2108

Team Hill, family remember fallen pilot

by Maj. Bernadette Dozier
388th Fighter Wing Public Affairs

7/2/2009 - HILL AIR FORCE BASE, Utah -- Members of Team Hill and the local community paid tribute to a fallen Airman, husband, son, brother, warrior and friend at a memorial service June 26 in Hangar 37.

Capt. George B. "Ice" Houghton, a pilot from the 421st Fighter Squadron, died during an F-16 accident June 22 at the Utah Test and Training Range. The Candler, N.C. native was 28.

The service included the presentation of the Meritorious Service Medal and U.S. flag and a Missing Man flyover.

His wife, Josie, father, George Houghton, mother, Darlene Houghton, and two brothers, Staff Sgt. Daniel Houghton and U.S. Air Force Academy cadet Patrick Houghton, as well as several out-of-town friends and family were in attendance.

"In this memorial service, we will -- in fighter pilot tradition -- both mourn his passing while we celebrate his life," said Col. Scott Dennis, 388th Fighter Wing commander at the time of the service, in what he described was the most sacred and solemn duty of honoring a fallen warrior.

"Josie, thank you for the honor of my speaking today and allowing me to honor George's service to our country," Colonel Dennis said. "George and Darlene, there are no words I can say that will ease your pain at the loss of your son, but I hope you will come to know how much George meant to us, and what a wonderful young man you raised."

"Like your other two sons, George made a commitment to serve this great country and because of that he has hundreds of brothers and sisters in this wing and beyond; in the end that is really why we all serve -- for each other."

Colonel Dennis shared this passage from John 15:13, "Greater love has no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends." He compared this to military service.

"That's what our service is about, that's what George was all about, that is why he was training for the upcoming combat deployment," Colonel Dennis said. "What we do is vitally important -- in Iraq and Afghanistan, we save lives of our comrades on the ground.

"This wing's actions in combat has saved countless lives, and prevented other families from losing their sons and daughters. Ice knew this, like we all do, and that's why he and the rest of us do what we do."

Colonel Dennis added that the wing's Airmen honor Captain Houghton by being committed to the same thing he was committed to ... "by continuing our professionalism -- by winning in combat - because it's vitally important to other families, and to our country."

Lt. Col. Tim Gosnell, 421st FS commander, said Captain Houghton had many sides to him including "jokester, DJ, professional, proud brother and talented pilot.

"On several occasions I got to fly with Ice the extremely talented, combat-ready Black Widow Viper driver, who couldn't hide his excitement about doing the job that he loved," Lieutenant Colonel Gosnell recalled.

"And through this last week, I got to meet Ice, the amazing family man who touched so many lives with his heart and strength," Lieutenant Colonel Gosnell said. "Even though he is not here now, I know he will be with all of us for our combat deployment and throughout the rest of our lives. Sawadee, Ice"

Captain Houghton's brothers and father also shared their memories of him calling, describing him as an "inspiration and hero."

His father noted the enlarged family Captain Houghton bestowed before his passing.

"When George married Josie, I gained a daughter. When he died, I gained a squadron, a wing, all of you," his father said as he pointed to the crowd. "You are all my family now."

Captain Houghton said his son wanted to be a fighter pilot, even though there was some danger involved. "His profession didn't take (him) away ... God did," his father concluded.

"As we all reflect today, let us remember that George Houghton was an American Patriot, who was willing to face the challenges that try our souls. He was someone during this time of war who did not shrink from service to our country. And he was willing to stand fast as a husband, son, brother and wingman when we needed him," Colonel Dennis said. "God rest his soul, and may God bless all of us today."

source: http://www.388fw.acc.af.mil/news/story.asp?id=123157845