Navy releases names of 24 crew members

Associated Press

WASHINGTON — The Navy on Monday released the names of the 24 members of the crew of the EP-3E Aries II electronic surveillance plane that landed in China after colliding with a Chinese fighter jet.

The crew are members of Fleet Air Reconnaissance Squadron One, based at Whidbey Island Naval Air Station, Wash.

They include 22 members of the Navy, one Air Force senior airman and a Marine Corps sergeant.

Here are the names, ranks and home of record:

NAVY

• Ensign Richard Bensing of Brandon, Fla.
• Aviation Electrician's Mate 3rd Class Steven Blocher of Charlotte, N.C.
• Cryptologic Technician Seaman Bradford Borland, whose home of record was not listed.
• Aviation Electronics Technician 2nd Class David Cecka of Leavenworth, Wash.
• Lt. (j.g.) John Comerford of Palos Verdes Estates, Calif.
• Cryptologic Technician Operator 1st Class Shawn Coursen of Valdosta, Ga.
• Cryptologic Technician Collection Seaman Jeremy Crandall of Poplar Grove, Ill.
• Cryptologic Technician Interpretive 1st Class Josef Edmunds of Davis, Calif.
• Cryptologic Technician Interpretive 2nd Class Brandon Funk of Showlow, Ariz.
• Aviation Electronics Technician 2nd Class Scott Guidry of Satellite Beach, Fla.
• Cryptologic Technician 2nd Class Jason Hanser of Billings, Mont.
• Lt. Patrick Honeck of La Mesa, Calif.
• Lt. (j.g.) Regina Kauffman of Warminster, Pa.
• Aviation Machinist's Mate Senior Chief Nicholas Mellos of Ypsilanti, Mich.
• Aviation Electronics Technician 2nd Class Ramon Mercado of Moreno Valley, Calif.
• Lt. Shane Osborn of Norfolk, Neb.
• Lt. (j.g.) Richard Payne, whose home of record was not listed.
• Cryptologic Technician 2nd Class Kenneth Richter of Staten Island, N.Y.
• Lt. Marcia Sonon of Lenharstville, Pa.
• Lt. (j.g.) Jeffery Vignery of Goodland, Kan.
• Aviation Machinist 2nd Class Wendy Westbrook of Rock Creek, Ohio
• Cryptologic Technician 3rd Class Rodney Young of Katy, Texas

MARINE CORPS

• Sgt. Richard Pray of Geneseo, Ill.

AIR FORCE

• Senior Airman Curtis Towne of Hayward, Calif.