The Marine Corps has identified the pilot killed in a plane crash near Twentynine Palms Thursday night. Major Richard “Stranger” Norton, 36, of Arcadia, departed from Marine Corps Air Station Miramar in an F/A-18C Hornet to take part in an integrated training exercise on board the Combat Center in Twentynine Palms. A Marine Corps spokesman said Norton was providing close air support and was firing the fighter jet’s canons when the jet crashed about 10:30 p.m.; however, the spokesman added, there is no evidence that the plane broke apart in midair. Norton, who was commissioned in 2005, had deployed to Afghanistan in 2012 in support of Operation Enduring Freedom and had deployed to Japan multiple times. His personal awards include the Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal and the Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal with gold star (in lieu of second award). The cause of the crash is under investigation.
