The pilot of an F-16 that crashed Thursday in the Gulf of Mexico has been identified as Matthew J. LaCourse, a Department of the Air Force civilian pilot assigned to the 82nd Aerial Targets Squadron.
LaCourse, 58, was an Air Force Academy graduate who retired in 2000 as a lieutenant colonel after 22 years in the Air Force, Tyndall Air Force Base announced on Friday.
About 9:15 a.m. on Thursday, his F-16 was flying about 70 miles south of the base on a training mission when it lost contact with the tower. His body was pulled from the Gulf of Mexico later that day.
"Our thoughts and prayers go out to the family members of our fallen teammate as they struggle through this extremely difficult time," Tyndall Air Force Base announced in a Thursday news release.
The 82nd Aerial Targets Squadron is upgrading to the optionally manned QF-16 targeting drone.
