PRESIDENT JD VANCE IS EXPECTED TO HAPPEN FRIDAY IN IOWANS IS AMONG EIGHT PEOPLE WHO WERE KILLED WHEN A B-52 AIRCRAFT CRASHED IN EDWARDS AIR FORCE BASE IN CALIFORNIA. AND TODAY, THE U.S. AIR FORCE CONFIRMED THAT 35 YEAR OLD MAJOR BRAD HARVEY WAS AMONG THE VICTIMS. KCCI PURPURA VISITED MAJOR HARVEY’S HOMETOWN OF ADEL. DIDN’T EXPECT HIM TO DIE DOING HIS DREAM, BUT IT WAS WHAT HE REALLY WANTED. MONDAY, EIGHT PEOPLE DIED WHEN THIS B-52 AIRCRAFT CRASHED AT EDWARDS AIR FORCE BASE IN CALIFORNIA. INVESTIGATORS SAY IT COULD TAKE MONTHS TO FIND A CAUSE. BUT HERE IN ADEL, NATIONAL HEADLINES HIT HOME. MAJOR BRAD HARVEY IS A TIGER ALLAMAKEE DALE CLARKE WORKED ALONGSIDE HARVEY AT THIS FORMER COME AND GO GAS STATION RUN BY HIS FATHER. HIS DAUGHTER WAS ALSO FRIENDS WITH HARVEY. HE SAYS IN A WORD, HARVEY WAS WELL ROUNDED. HE JUST. GREAT AMERICAN KID. ON TOP OF KEEPING GOOD GRADES, HE PLAYED SEVERAL SCHOOL SPORTS, SANG IN CHOIR AND ACHIEVED THE HONOR OF EAGLE SCOUT WITH LOCAL TROOP 152. BUT HIS REAL DREAM WAS TO BECOME A PILOT. YEAH, I DIDN’T KNOW HE WAS GOING INTO THE FLYING JETS, BUT THAT WAS A DREAM HE ALWAYS HAD. ACROSS ADEL, MANY ARE IN SHOCK OR ARE MOURNING HARVEY’S DEATH. MY DAUGHTER CALLED ME CRYING AND I DIDN’T KNOW WHY SHE WAS CRYING. SHE HAD A HARD TIME TELLING ME THAT. SHE JUST GOT THE NEWS THAT BRAD HAD PASSED. THE COMMUNITY IS STILL FIGURING OUT HOW TO SUPPORT HIS FAMILY, BUT THE SENTIMENT AMONGST THEM IS SHARED. HE WAS JUST A GREAT KID, YOU KNOW, I JUST REALLY GOING TO MISS HIM IN ADEL. PEPPER PURPURA KCCI EIGHT NEWS. IOWA’S NEWS LEADER. A LOT OF PEOPLE HURTING OVER THAT NEWS TONIGHT. MAJOR HARVEY WAS BORN IN ALGONA AND GRADUATED FROM IOWA STATE UNIVERSITY IN 2014 WITH A DEGREE IN AEROSPACE ENGINEERING. KCCI WILL CONTINUE T
Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds orders flags at half-staff in honor of late U.S. Air Force Maj. Brad Hovey
Updated: 4:12 PM CDT Jul 9, 2026
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Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds has ordered all flags in Iowa to fly at half-staff from sunrise Friday, July 10, until sunset Friday, July 17, in honor of late U.S. Air Force Maj. Brad Hovey. Video above: Eagle Scout to Air Force major: How Brad Hovey is known in his hometownHovey, 35, was one of the eight men killed in June’s B-52 crash during a test flight at California’s Edwards Air Force Base. Casualties included four active duty airmen, a reservist and three civilians who were on a team devoted to keeping the bomber flying for decades to come. Hovey was an Algona native who attended ADM (Adel) High School then Iowa State University.”Maj. Brad Hovey lived and served with honor and distinction, and we are forever grateful for his service,” Reynolds said. “My family’s prayers remain with Maj. Hovey’s wife and children, parents, brothers, and in-laws, as they prepare to lay their loved one to rest. As a state, we grieve his loss together, and we stand united in our support of his family.” According to Caldwell Parrish Funeral Home, a public visitation will be held from 1-7 p.m. Thursday, July 16, at New Hope Church in Adel. The family will be present from 4-7 p.m. A funeral service open to friends and family will be held at 1:30 p.m. Friday, July 17, at New Hope Church in Adel. A private graveside service will follow at the Iowa Veterans Cemetery.»Subscribe to KCCI’s YouTube page» Download the free KCCI app to get updates on the go: Apple | Google PlayWATCH: Iowa leaders mourn Maj. Brad Hovey after deadly California B-52 crash
Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds has ordered all flags in Iowa to fly at half-staff from sunrise Friday, July 10, until sunset Friday, July 17, in honor of late U.S. Air Force Maj. Brad Hovey.
Video above: Eagle Scout to Air Force major: How Brad Hovey is known in his hometown
Hovey, 35, was one of the eight men killed in June’s B-52 crash during a test flight at California’s Edwards Air Force Base. Casualties included four active duty airmen, a reservist and three civilians who were on a team devoted to keeping the bomber flying for decades to come. Hovey was an Algona native who attended ADM (Adel) High School then Iowa State University.
“Maj. Brad Hovey lived and served with honor and distinction, and we are forever grateful for his service,” Reynolds said. “My family’s prayers remain with Maj. Hovey’s wife and children, parents, brothers, and in-laws, as they prepare to lay their loved one to rest. As a state, we grieve his loss together, and we stand united in our support of his family.”
According to Caldwell Parrish Funeral Home, a public visitation will be held from 1-7 p.m. Thursday, July 16, at New Hope Church in Adel. The family will be present from 4-7 p.m. A funeral service open to friends and family will be held at 1:30 p.m. Friday, July 17, at New Hope Church in Adel. A private graveside service will follow at the Iowa Veterans Cemetery.
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