Capt. Durwood "Hawk" Jones, 37, of Albuquerque, New Mexico, pictured here with his family, lost his life during an F-16 crash in Michigan's Upper Peninsula Dec. 8. (Photo courtesy Wisconsin Air National Guard via the Escanaba Daily Press)

MADISON, Wis. — The pilot who died in an F-16 crash in the Hiawatha National Forest during an evening training flight on Tuesday was identified on Friday by the Wisconsin Air National Guard’s 115th Fighter Wing as Air Force Capt. Durwood “Hawk” Jones, 37, of Albuquerque, New Mexico. He is survived by his wife and two children, officials said.

The cause of the accident remains under investigation, said Col. Bart Van Roo, the 115th Fighter Wing commander, in a news release from the Wisconsin Air National Guard.

Jones joined the Air National Guard in 2011 and graduated from F-16 basic qualification training in 2015. He is a decorated combat veteran, deploying as a part of a United States Pacific Command Theater Support Package to Japan in 2015 and to Korea in 2017.

He deployed again in support of Operation Freedom’s Sentinel to Afghanistan in 2019. Jones was awarded two Air Medals with combat “C” devices, which are awarded to individuals who have been personally exposed to hostile action or under significant risk of hostile action. Before joining the military, Jones graduated from Northwestern University with a degree in mathematics in 2005.

“The family asked to convey their gratitude for the incredible outpouring of love and support from the community,” officials said in the release.

Prior to the release of Jones’ identity, the Wisconsin Air National Guard’s 115th Fighter Wing held a news conference at its Truax Field base in Madison on Friday morning.

They said Jones succumbed to his injuries after the F-16 fighter jet crashed near the Delta-Schoolcraft county line during a scheduled training mission.

The crash occurred Tuesday night at approximately 9 p.m.

After a nearly 48-hour search of the area near Camp Seven Lake and County Road 442 involving several military and civilian agencies, the 115th Fighter Wing announced late on Thursday afternoon that the pilot had been located deceased.

“It is with deep sorrow that we report that the pilot of the downed aircraft lost their life in the crash,” Van Roo said at Friday’s news conference. “Our primary focus right now is for the family of the pilot.

“The Fighter Wing and the Wisconsin National Guard are deeply saddened by this tragic loss. Our dedication to duty, and the training that is required for this job, develops a bond that is like no other. The loss of a member like this is a very difficult thing for such a committed group of professionals. Our sadness over this loss may dissipate, but the scar will never heal.”

Van Roo said pilots and air crews regularly conduct training missions during both day and night in order to maintain proficiency in flying.

Van Roo added that agencies from several states responded to the crash immediately after it occurred.

After the crash, local emergency responders arrived on scene and secured the site until military personnel, including airmen from the 115th Wing, reached the area. The Hiawatha National Forest spans over 800,000 acres in central and eastern U.P.

The Associated Press reported in a Friday story that the closest community to the crash site — a remote area with no cellphone service — is the small village of Steuben, located in adjacent Schoolcraft County, authorities have said.

Local, state and federal agencies all participated in a comprehensive search for the pilot in hopes that he would be found alive.

“We are extremely grateful for the support and assistance that we received from those agencies and neighboring states — in particular the Michigan State Police, the Delta County Sheriff’s Office, the Michigan National Guard and National Guard forces from Minnesota, Indiana and Iowa,” Van Roo said.

Other agencies responding to the scene were the U.S. Coast Guard and U.S. Forest Service.

Van Roo said that specific details of the crash won’t be available until the thorough investigation process is completed.

“Safety here at the 115th continues to be our top priority,” he said. “The incident is under investigation by the U.S. Air Force, and the Fighter Wing is committed to working closely with the Air Force to ensure a thorough investigation is completed to determine the cause of the crash.

“I would like to explain that the investigation is a deliberate, three-phase process that examines all aspects of this incident. It will look into preflight activities, maintenance, aircraft integrity, pilot briefings and training, all with the goal of determining exactly how this accident occurred.

“The first phase, the initial safety board looks to gather and preserve information. That typically takes approximately one week. The second phase, the site investigation, works to figure out what exactly occurred. This phase takes approximately 30 days. The final phase, the Accident Investigation Board looks to identify the cause and could take a year or more to report its conclusions.

“With the need to protect the integrity of that investigation, short of what I’ve already mentioned, we do not have specific details to share about the crash or what may have led to it at this time. We will release additional information to the public as we are able.”

It remains unclear if Jones was able to eject before the crash and Van Roo said that will be determined during the investigation.

Van Roo added that the unit is being deliberate about understanding when they’ll take to the skies once again.

Wisconsin Gov. Tony Evers also released a statement on the incident on Thursday afternoon.

“(My wife) Kathy and I share our deepest condolences with the pilot’s family and loved ones, as well as the 115th Fighter Wing and the entire Wisconsin National Guard as they grapple with the loss of their fellow service member,” Evers said on Facebook.

The U.S. National Forest Service put out an emergency closure order on Friday for several forest roads near the crash site. The F-16 was equipped with live ordnance during the training mission and officials are asking the public to stay clear of the crash site with respect to the investigation.

The full order can be viewed at www.fs.usda.gov/hiawatha.

For further updates from the 115th Fighter Wing, visit www.115fw.ang.af.mil or find it on Facebook.

The 115th Fighter Wing, the AP said, has about 1,200 members, including 500 full-time airmen.

The unit began flying F-16 Falcons in 1992 and in April, the Air Force named Truax Field as one of two bases that would get new F-35 fighter planes to replace the aging F-16s, starting in 2023.

Tuesday’s crash was the unit’s third F-16 crash in 25 years, the AP reported. The other two were not fatal.

Ryan Spitza can be reached at 906-228-2500, ext. 248. His email address is rspitza@miningjournal.net.