This page is in Honor and Memory of Maj. James A. “Crush” Duricy
Maj. James A. “Crush” Duricy of Niceville, Fla., was killed April 30, 2002, while conducting a flight test mission in a F-15 over the Gulf of Mexico. He was 35. Graduating from the United States Air Force Academy in 1989, Maj. Duricy would go on to hold positions as a T-37 instructor pilot, F-15 pilot and experimental test pilot. He had been conducting flight tests of air-to-air missiles since January 2001 at the 46th Test Wing at Eglin Air Force Base. His military decorations include the Air Medal, Aerial Achievement Medal, Air Force Commendation Medal with one oak leaf cluster and the Air Force Achievement Medal with one oak leaf cluster.
Maj. Duricy was born Feb. 9, 1967, in the Cleveland suburb of Euclid, OH. He is remembered as an active member of Christ Our Redeemer Catholic Church in Niceville and a dedicated and loving husband and father.
He is survived by his wife, Elaine Armstrong Duricy of Niceville; daughters, Erin and Kate Duricy of Niceville; parents, Irene and Arthur “Art” Duricy of Willoughby, Ohio; and sister, Christine Benigar.
A military memorial service will be held at 10 a.m. Tuesday in the Eglin West Gate Chapel. The service is by invitation only to family, friends and co-workers. The Rev. J. Craig Williams will officiate a local service at 10 a.m. on Thursday, May 9, at Christ Our Redeemer Catholic Church in Niceville.
Final F-15 Flight
USAF F-15C serial number 82-0025, assigned to the 40th Flight Test Squadron Eglin Air Force Base, Florida, completes one of its final missions before retirement, July 26, 2021. The twin-engine, single seat jet flew as a memorial to Maj. James “Crush” Duricy, a test pilot who died the same kind of aircraft during a test flight in 2002. (All photos are made by U.S. Air Force photo by Master Sgt. Tristan McIntire)
