NOVEMBER 12, 2025 – U.S. Marine Corps Maj. Tyler R. “Jabroni” Braconi, AH-1Z Viper pilot and operations officer with Marine Light Attack Helicopter Squadron (HMLA) 369, Marine Aircraft Group 39, 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing, was honored during a memorial ceremony at Marine Corps Air Station Camp Pendleton on the morning of Nov. 7, 2025.
More than 600 Marines, family members, friends, and fellow service members from across the U.S. and allied nation militaries, including the United Kingdom and Australia, gathered to pay tribute to Braconi, who lost his life in an AH-1Z Viper aviation mishap on Oct. 16, 2025.
The ceremony took place in hangar 5, home of the HMLA-369 “Gunfighters.”
The ceremony began with a moment of silence as Braconi’s family was escorted into the hangar. Lt. Cmdr. James Lewis, the chaplain for MAG-39, welcomed attendees and offered the invocation.
Retired U.S. Marine Corps Gunnery Sgt. Joel Daniel, a professional musician, played the national anthem on bagpipes near the display of the battlefield cross. Maj. Braconi’s flight helmet, boots, and flight gear were displayed with his portrait at the center of the ceremony.
Friends and fellow squadron members of Braconi provided remarks, recounting anecdotes of shared experiences and highlighting the lasting impact the fallen Marine had on their lives.
“That was Tyler, equal parts wisdom, humor, tough love, and heart,” said Capt. Samuel Kellogg, an AH-1Z Viper pilot with HMLA-369. “He had a way of cutting through the noise and reminding you who you are supposed to be. He made you feel seen. He made you laugh when you needed it the most.”
Braconi spent four years in Australia after being selected for a competitive exchange program. There he made lasting relationships with service members from allied nations and returned with friendships that continue to stand strong today, as representatives from across the allied militaries attended.
Following the eulogies, a scripture was read by a fellow Marine and AH-1Z pilot, Capt. Keanu Menendez. Then the commanding officer of HMLA-369, Lt. Col. Christopher Hart, gave remarks.
“All these great things aren’t just what ‘Jabroni’ was all about,” Hart said. “He was more than a Marine officer, more than a Cobra pilot, more than an operations officer. His relationships went far beyond the uniform that he wore. Nothing illustrates this more clearly than the number and diversity of individuals who came here today.”
His words carried both pride and sorrow as he shared how Maj. Braconi’s character extended beyond his accomplishments in the cockpit.
“It is impossible to find the words to explain and express the loss of ‘Jabroni,’” Hart said. “He had incredible talent. He had an exceptional reputation as an aviator and as an instructor. Having him carry out the most demanding missions was always an easy yes for me.”
The service moved toward its concluding events with the reading of the Marine’s Prayer and final roll call. Sgt. Maj. Michael Grabau, the sergeant major of HMLA-369, performed the final roll call, a military ritual which pays tribute to fallen members of a unit, signifying the very last time their name will be called in the Marine Corps.
After roll call, a bell was tolled seven times as a symbolic gesture honoring the fallen and his enduring legacy.
A bugler with the 3rd MAW Band played Taps, a call to remember those who gave their lives in service to the nation. Following Taps, the squadron conducted the missing man flyover, where two AH-1Z Viper and two UH-1Y Venom helicopters flew in formation overhead the ceremony. One AH-1Z flew to the North, away from the direction of the other three aircraft, symbolizing the one missing aircraft from the typical four ship formation in honor of Braconi and his flight legacy.
“‘Jabroni’ was one of the greats,” Hart concluded. “He will be remembered doing that which he loved. That we will always remember.”
The 3rd MAW deeply mourns the loss of Maj. Tyler R. Braconi. His legacy as a leader, mentor, and Marine will never be forgotten, and his spirit lives on in the squadron and in the hearts of those who knew him.
1stLt Madison Walls
3rd Marine Aircraft Wing