A Marine pilot killed in a helicopter crash last week in a remote area of the California desert about 40 miles from El Centro has been identified as a California native, Marine officials announced Monday, Oct. 20.

Maj. Tyler R. Braconi, 35, was assigned to Marine Light Attack Helicopter Squadron (HMLA) 369, known as the “Gunfighters,” which is part of Marine Aircraft Group 39, 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing, and based at Marine Corps Air Station Camp Pendleton. At the time of the accident on Thursday, Oct. 16, he was flying as part of the Weapons and Tactics Instructor Course, a seven-week course that runs through Oct. 26 and is hosted at Yuma Marine Corps Air Station.

The two-seat helicopter crashed at about 7:05 p.m. in Imperial Gables, about 36 miles north of Yuma, Ariz., and 45 miles north

See Full Page