Funeral held for airman killed in B-52 crash

BOSSIER CITY, La. – Friends and family on Friday morning celebrated the life of an airman who died last week in a B-52 crash in California.

A funeral service for Col. Gregory Michael Watson, 53, of Haughton, was held at Asbury United Methodist Church with full military honors. Burial will follow at a later date at Arlington National Cemetery.

Watson was one of eight killed on June 15 when a B-52H Stratofortress crashed shortly after takeoff at Edwards Air Force Base. The aircraft, which flew under the call sign Torch 11, was in support of the bomber’s radar modernization program.

Watson, an Illinois native, entered the Air Force in 2001. He had more than 3,200 flying hours in the B-52.

During his service, Watson deployed in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom and multiple U.S. IndoPacific Command Continuous Bomber Presence and Bomber Task Force missions.

After more than 14 years on active duty, Watson transitioned to the U.S. Air Force Reserves, where he served as an instructor, chief of inspections, commander of the 307th Logistics Readiness Squadron and commander of the 343rd Bomb Squadron at Barksdale Air Force Base, among other roles. He was most recently assigned to 10th Air Force at Joint Naval Air Station Fort Worth, Texas.

Watson was a longtime member of Asbury United Methodist Church. He recently gained more family by joining the Krewe of Gemini.

He is survived by his wife, his parents, children, step-children, sister and brother.