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Body of missing U.S. Marine pilot found after crash in Japan

The cause of Capt. Jake Frederick's F/A-18 fighter jet crash is still unknown, according to the U.S. Marine Corps.

By Stephen Feller
The body of U.S. Marine Capt. Jake Frederick, who ejected from his F/A-18C Hornet during a training mission on Wednesday, was found off the coast of Japan near the jet's crash site. The cause of the crash is still unknown, according to the U.S. Marine Corps. Photo by United States Marine Corps
The body of U.S. Marine Capt. Jake Frederick, who ejected from his F/A-18C Hornet during a training mission on Wednesday, was found off the coast of Japan near the jet's crash site. The cause of the crash is still unknown, according to the U.S. Marine Corps. Photo by United States Marine Corps

KOCHI, Japan, Dec. 8 (UPI) -- A Japanese naval vessel found the body of a U.S. Marine Corps pilot who ejected from his fighter jet during a training mission on Wednesday, after an extensive 24-hour search-and-rescue effort by U.S. and Japanese ships and aircraft.

The body of Marine Capt. Jake Frederick was found early Thursday by a Japanese Maritime Self-Defense Force ship and brought to Marine Corps Base Camp Butler in Okinawa where he was pronounced dead.

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Frederick ejected from his F/A-18 Hornet about 120 miles southeast of Iwakuni, Japan, during the regularly-scheduled training mission, though officials say they are still unsure what caused the crash.

An immediate search-and-rescue mission was launched by Japanese Self-Defense Forces and the Marines after Frederick ejected from the jet around 6:40 p.m. local time, including another F/A-18 that had been flying alongside him until it started running out of fuel.

The effort eventually grew to include three Japanese ships and several aircraft, as well as the USS Montford Point and guided-missile destroyer USS Wilbur Curtis before Frederick was spotted at around 1 a.m. Thursday morning.

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"We will provide more releasable information after the 24-hour window," the Marine Corps said in a press release. "Our deepest condolences go out to the family and friends of the pilot."

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