Capt. Nathanael J. Doring and Cpl. Richard A. Bennett were piloting their AH-1 Cobra gunship on a routine maintenance flight when it crashed into Lake Habbaniyah, officials said. Enemy fire was not suspected in the incident.
Both Marines were assigned to Marine Light/Attack Helicopter Squadron-169, Marine Aircraft Group-39, 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing, I Marine Expeditionary Force from Camp Pendleton, Calif. Their bodies were recovered. Doring was officially pronounced dead on Monday, and Bennett on Tuesday, officials said Thursday.
Bennett, 25, was a native of Girard, Kan., officials said.
Ricky Bennett, as he was known to friends and family, graduated from high school in 1999 and joined the Marines shortly afterward, officials said.