A Marine officer and her co-pilot killed in a a helicopter crash earlier this week have been identified by military officials.
Killed in the crash near Pine Valley on Tuesday were Capt. Jessica Conkling, 27, of Centre, Pa., and 1st Lt. Aaron Cox, 26, of Pulaski, Ark. The Marines were riding in an AH-1W Super Cobra went it went down.
The crash victims, who were originally from Marine Light Attack Helicopter Squadron 267, Marine Aircraft Group 39, which was based at Camp Pendleton, were assigned to fly with Marine Medium Helicopter Squadron 166 (Reinforced) as they trained for an upcoming deployment. They were on a night-time training exercise at the time of their deaths. The aircraft's wreckage ignited a brush fire that was still smoking hours after later.
Conkling earned her Marine Corps commission on Dec. 10, 2004, and was promoted to captain on Jan. 1, while Cox was commissioned in May 2005. He achieved the rank of 1st lieutenant two years later
Conkling had been awarded the Sea Service Deployment ribbon, and both Marines had received Global War on Terrorism Service medals and National Defense Service medals.
The cause of the crash is still under investigation.
