Remains of Navy aviators killed after Growler crash near Mount Rainier to return home
Following an almost three-week operation, the remains of two Navy aviators killed when their EA-18G Growler crashed near Mount Rainier are set to return to their families.
Lt. Cmdr. Lyndsay P. Evans, 31 of California, and Lt. Serena N. Wileman, 31 of California, died when their jet crashed Oct. 15 east of Mount Rainier during a routine training flight, according to the Navy. They had departed Naval Air Station Whidbey Island prior to the crash.
“It is with a heavy heart that we share the loss of two beloved Zappers,” Cmdr. Timothy Warburton said in an announcement on Oct. 20 . “Our priority right now is taking care of the families of our fallen aviators, and ensuring the well-being of our Sailors and the Growler community. We are grateful for the ongoing teamwork to safely recover the deceased.”
The wreckage was spotted at an altitude of about 6,000 feet in a remote, steep, heavily wooded area Oct. 16. The Navy, local law enforcement and partner agencies reached the spot where the plane crashed on Oct. 18. Recovery operations began soon after.
Evans and Wileman’s remains will return to their homes from Dover Air Force Base the week of Nov. 4, according to NAS Whidbey Island’s Mike Welding in an email.
Wileman is set to return to her home in Oak Harbor at about 7 p.m. on Monday, he said. Wallin-Stucky Funeral Home is inviting the Oak Harbor community to show their support for Wileman’s arrival, according to a Facebook post.
Evans will return to her home in Anacortes on a later date during the week, Welding said. Her arrival will be a private affair, per her family’s wishes.
“The families of both LT Wileman and LCDR Evans wish to express their gratitude for the gracious support from the local and surrounding communities these past weeks,” Welding said.
During their 2023-24 deployment, Evans and Wileman were among the few women to fly combat missions over land during operations into Houthi-controlled territories in Yemen, according to a story posted on Defense Visual Information Distribution Service.
The story described them as “two trailblazing aviators” who touched many people on the flight deck and beyond.
The cause of the crash is still under investigation, according to a Navy spokesman on Monday.
This story was originally published November 4, 2024 at 2:53 PM with the headline "Remains of Navy aviators killed after Growler crash near Mount Rainier to return home."
