Sacramento native one of two female aviators killed after Navy jet crashes near Mount Rainier
The Sacramento naval aviator and crew member killed when their jet crashed near Mount Rainier in Washington state during training were remembered this week as trailblazers.
Lt. Serena Wileman and Lt. Cmdr. Lyndsay Evans were on a routine training mission when their EA-18G Growler, an electronic warfare variant of the Navy’s jet fighter, went down Oct. 15. Wileman and Evans had returned in July to their Washington state home base, Naval Air Station Whidbey Island, from a nine-month deployment in the Red Sea.
Wileman, who grew up in Sacramento, leaves behind her husband, Brandon, also a Navy aviator. The two met in flight school.
Wileman and Evans were 31.
“More than just names and ranks, they were role models, trailblazers, and women whose influence touched countless people on the flight deck and well beyond,” Navy officials at NAS Whidbey Island remembered in a statement.
In a statement Monday, President Joe Biden and wife, Jill Biden, mourned the aviators’ loss.
“They were among our nation’s finest,” the White House statement read. “We pray for their families, loved ones and squadron-mates, and we will always honor their service and sacrifice.”
Wileman’s fellow aviators knew her as “Dug,” one of the few women to fly combat missions over land; a calm and collected presence on the flight deck who was her squadron’s heart and soul.
“Wileman made everyone smile. She would brighten up any room and was known for her genuine care and compassion for those around her,” Navy officials said in the statement. “She always brought a sense of calm, in the good times and bad, whether it was through a joke, a game of cribbage, or a giant bear hug for a Sailor in need of one.”
Wileman was also at the dawn of what Navy officials said was a bright and promising career. She had earned her commission through Officer Candidate School and, in her first tour of duty, had already staked a reputation as an energetic, vocal influence on her squadron, known as the Zappers, for their electronic warfare mission, said Navy officials.
Perhaps Evans’ most visible role was as a member of the first-ever all-woman flyover of a Super Bowl at Super Bowl LVII in 2023 to commemorate 50 years of women aviators in the U.S. Navy. But Evans, a native of Palmdale, was a pioneering aviator known for her innovations in the cockpit and the classroom. She was a “quiet professional,” Navy officials said, a born leader and expert aboard the two-seat EA-18G Growler.
Wileman and Evans, “Miley” to her comrades, were based aboard the aircraft carrier Eisenhower, where the two were among the few women aviators to fly combat missions over land, piloting multiple missions into Yemen and territory controlled by Houthi rebels.
Wileman’s fellow officers remembered her work as a landing signal officer, bringing planes safely home to the USS Eisenhower’s flight deck while the carrier’s strike group was under Houthi missile and drone attack.
“Her calm and collected demeanor under pressure showed during combat operations,” officials said in a statement. “Wileman always showcased her extraordinary composure and consistent ability to perform under pressure.”
Wileman and veteran electronic warfare officer Evans often flew as a team — each known and missed, Navy officials said, for their humor and their spirit.
“Their contributions cannot be overstated; I could not be more proud to have served with each of them,” Capt. Marvin Scott, commander of Carrier Wing Three aboard the Eisenhower, said in a statement. “Dug and Miley truly represent the best that naval aviation has to offer and they will absolutely be missed.”
This story was originally published October 22, 2024 at 12:27 PM.
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