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Fire kills Col Turner and two others at Vandenberg AFB
Col Joseph G. Turner Jr and two civilian firefighters Billy J. Bell and Eugene G. Cooper died in a blaze traced to Space Launch Complex 5 at Vandenberg AFB. Turner was base commander and led firefighting efforts before his disappearance with Bell. Two other firefighters were injured and civilians Clarence McCauley and Edgar Alvarez were hospitalized. Public memorials were planned as investigations continued.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Santa Barbara County
Ferno
South Vandenberg Afb
Dan Duffy
SLC 5
Santa Barbara County Fire Department
Air Force
Turner
Bell
Richard Kline
Cooper
Vandenberg Civil Engineering Squadron
Kline
Ed Piceno
Clarence McCauley
Brooks Afb
San Antonio
Texas
Edgar Alvarez
Alvarez
McCauley
Civil Engineering
Osan Air Force Base
Korea
Vandenberg
1St
Strategic Aerospace Division
David L. Gray
Gray
Joseph E. Terrell
Terrell
Susan
Joseph
Marrietta College
Ohio
Sompoo Funeral Home
Vandenberg Afb
Billy Bell
Eugene G. Cooper
Space Launch Complex 5
Brook Army Medical Center
Tex
Santa Barbara
Los Angeles
Ventura
U.S. Forest Service