Update2: Japanese pilot ID'd

MONTGOMERY, Ala. - The Air Force confirmed two Mississippi-based pilots were killed after a T-38 Talon trainer aircraft crashed near the Montgomery Regional Airport around 5:30 p.m. on Feb. 19. The aircraft and pilots were based out of Columbus (Miss.) AFB. Lt. Steven D. Dean Jr., CAFB public affairs, said the pilots were flying a training mission at the time of the crash. The supersonic jet trainer was assigned to the 14th Flying Training Wing (FTW) at CAFB. Wing and base commander Col. Seth Graham said: “Our thoughts and prayers are with the families of the two pilots involved in this incident. There are no words that can describe the sadness that accompanies the loss of our teammates.” Officials did not release the names of the pilots since next of kin were still being notified. The jet crashed near Dannelly Field. A safety investigation board will convene to determine the cause. Marshall Taggart, executive director of the Montgomery Regional Airport (Dannelly Field), told The AP that the aircraft crashed in a wooded area near Danley Field and the two people aboard had died in the crash. (Source: WSFA-Montgomery 02/19/21) The aircraft crew is made up of an instructor and student pilot. Specialized Undergraduate Pilot Training (SUPT) students fly the T-38C in aerobatics, formation, night, instrument and cross-country navigation training. The 14th FTW conducts SUPT training for AF and allied officers. The wing is composed of 244 aircraft flying more than 55,000 sorties and 77,000 hours annually while training over 400 pilots and combat system operators, according to its website. The T-38 Talon is a twin-engine, high-altitude, supersonic jet trainer. 2 killed after Air Force jet crashes near Montgomery, Ala. airport (wdam.com) THERE WAS ANOTHER T-38 ACCIDENT on Feb. 18. The incident was at Beale AFB, California. The aircraft and crew are part of the 9th Reconnaissance Wing at Beale. The T-38's landing gear malfunctioned and had to performed a “belly landing,” a media release from Beale AFB public affairs reported. The pilots were not injured. (Source: Aviationist 02/20/21) 

UPDATE SUNDAY: Lt. Scot Ames Jr., 24, from Pekin, Ind., has been identified as the instructor-pilot by the training wing Feb. 21. He was attached to the 50th Flying Training Squadron at CAFB. The lieutenant student-pilot killed was not named, but was a trainee with the Japanese Air Self Defense Force. The student-pilot's identity "will be provided according to Japan’s established process," according to a media release from the 14th FTW. (Source: ABC 02/21/21)

UPDATE2: The student-pilot was identified as Renshi Uesaki, 25. He was serving with the Japan Air Self-Defense Force, while attending undergraduate pilot training at CAFB. Uesaki was one of about 15 Japanese student-pilots training at CAFB.