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Squadron returns to Oceana after fatal crash

Strike Fighter Squadron Two One Three (VFA-213) was originally supposed to get in Wednesday, but that has been delayed until 10 a.m. Thursday due to weather.

VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. (WVEC) -- Eight days after a heartbreaking accident in Florida, Strike Fighter Squadron 213 returned to Naval Air Station Oceana on Thursday morning.

They came back a day late after weather delayed their trip. They returned with two fewer members after their jet crashed into the water during a training accident last week.

That mishap killed Lieutenant Commander James Johnson and Lieutenant Caleb King, both stationed in Virginia Beach.

VFA-213's commanding officer, CDR Kevin Robb, called the men patriots, and he talked about the squadron somehow, moving on now without them.

"We continue on with our mission and we get back to the business of Naval aviation, standing ready to project combat power anywhere in the world as our country directs," he said. "To do anything less would disappoint the two heroes we lost last week."

Robb, who didn't take any questions from media, said answers about the mishap will come, in due time.

"I understand the desire to want to know what happened in this terrible tragedy. I ask for your trust and patience as there is an active investigation being conducted by some of the finest professionals in the entire world."

SEE ALSO: Fundraiser launched for families of Navy jet crash victims

The Department of Defense is still looking into what caused the F/A-18F Super Hornet to go down. The Mishap Investigation Board looks at things like aircraft maintenance, number of hours flown on the jet and condition of the crew.

Typically, Class A mishap investigations like this take four to six months to complete.

The aircraft went down while approaching Naval Air Station Key West.

Credit: US Navy
The aviators killed in a crash in Key West, Florida on March 14, 2018, have been identified as Lt. Cmdr. James Brice Johnson and Lt. Caleb Nathaniel King, both Florida residents.

Now a national group is raising money for the families of the victims. The Wingman Foundation is a non-profit that provides support for the Navy and Marine Corps aviation community.

All money raised goes to the King and Johnson families. The foundation will also create a memorial patch for members of the squadron.

According to our partners at the Virginian-Pilot, a funeral service is planned for Johnson in Virginia Beach on Friday. A funeral for King will be held in Daytona Beach, Florida. Both are closed to the public.

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