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Sailor With Berkshire Ties Among 3 Killed in Navy Plane Crash

U.S. Navy

A Navy pilot from Dalton, Massachusetts who fatally crashed in the Philippine Sea is being remembered warmly. 

The body of Lieutenant Steven Combs was never found after his twin-engine aircraft crashed November 22nd. Combs was later declared dead by the Navy.

Eight of the 11 passengers aboard survived and were rescued. The plane went down after leaving Japan on its way to the aircraft carrier USS Ronald Reagan.

The 28-year-old pilot who grew up in Dalton and went to St. Joseph Central High School in Pittsfield was living in Florida.

The crash is the third incident involving the Japan-based US 7th Fleet in the last six months. An investigation is ongoing, according to Navy officials.

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