A flight test engineer teaching his daughter to drive and a husband who just marked his fourth wedding anniversary were killed when a B-52 Stratofortress crashed shortly after takeoff Monday in Southern California.

The US Air Force plane crashed shortly after takeoff from Edwards Air Force Base in California.

An official said an investigation could take up to six months and noted the B-52 in question was involved in a "radar modernization program."

Eight people were killed after a US Air Force B-52 bomber crashed shortly after take-off from Edwards Air Force Base in California's Mojave Desert on Monday.