This week in Edwards history Published June 5, 2017 By 412th Test Wing Public Affairs EDWARDS AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. -- On June 5, 1948, Northrop’s YB-49 No. 2, a prototype flying wing jet bomber, went out of control during its 25th test flight and crashed about 10 miles northwest of Muroc Air Force Base. Three officers and two civilian aircrew were killed. The pilot was Maj. Daniel Forbes, Jr. and the co-pilot was Capt. Glen Edwards. The aircraft was testing stall recovery performance when it suffered a catastrophic structural failure with the outer wing panels tearing off. In December 1949, Muroc was renamed Edwards Air Force Base in honor of Capt. Edwards.