BETHEL (AP) — One of the three Marines believed to have died in an MV-22 Osprey crash off the coast of Australia was a Maine native.

Family members tell the Portland Press Herald that 1st Lt. Benjamin Robert Cross grew up in Bethel and attended the Virginia Military Institute before joining the Marines.

A Marine statement indicates the Osprey launched from the USS Bonhomme Richard and was conducting regularly scheduled operations when it crashed Saturday. Twenty-three of 26 personnel aboard the aircraft were rescued.

U.S. military officials called off the search and rescue operation on Sunday.

In Maine, Ryan Cross said his 26-year-old brother loved to fly and “was proud of being a Marine and of the aircraft he flew.” Cross’ parents are Robert and Valerie Cross.

Cross’ mother says she will miss making more memories with her son. “We have so many awesome memories, but to know that we will never make any more with him is unbearable,” said Valerie Cross.

Members of SAD 44 say Cross was a 2009 graduate of Tellstar High School in Bethel and that they are deeply saddened to hear about what happened.

Information from WGME was used in this report.

Benjamin Cross’ brother Ryan Cross, mother Valerie Cross and father Robert Cross talk to WGME.In this June 29, 2017 file photo U.S. Marine MV-22B Osprey aircraft land on the deck of the USS Bonhomme Richard amphibious assault ship off the coast from Sydney during events marking the start of Talisman Saber 2017, a biennial joint military exercise between the United States and Australia. A MV-22 Osprey that had launched from the USS Bonhomme was conducting regularly scheduled operations when it crashed into the water off Australia’s east coast, Saturday, Aug. 5.

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