THE POST-STANDARD
Syracuse, N.Y., Wednesday, October 17, 1962
E. Syracuse Pilot Perishes In Jet Crash at Hancock
F-86 Flameout Takes Life of Lt. Woyciesjes
A 24 year old Air National Guard pilot was killed last night when his jet fighter plane "flamed out" on a routine training mission and crashed at Hancock field.
First Lieut. George Woyciesjes of 411 E. Irving St., East Syracuse apparently was killed instantly when his F86H jet fighter crashed in a heavily wooded area near Hancock Airport runway 28, about two miles from Thompson and Malley Roads in a non residential area.
Lt. Woyciesjes death was the first fatality in Hancock field's history according to National Guard spokesmen. Air National Guard spokesman said Lt. Woyciesjes, a member of the 138th Tactical Fighter Squadron, New York Air National Guard, was returning from a night proficiency training flight and was approaching a runway at the municipal airport when his engine quit.
Radio Tower
Control Tower officials said Woyciesjes, who was flying a single-seated plane in formation with another plane piloted by Maj. Robert Miller of Fulton, radioed his craft was in trouble and that he would attempt to bail out. The crashed occurred at 7:24 p.m.
The jet fighter, capable of speeds over 600 miles an hour was flying at about 225 miles an hour at 2,000 feet officials said when his engine quit. It was not immediately determined whether Woyciesjes attempted to bail out.
According to an airman driving in the area at the time of the crash, the jet "dropped suddenly and then there was a flash of black smoke and flames, like a miniature atomic bomb."
The plane crashed and exploded in a heavily wooded swampy area about 300 to 400 yards north of the runway. All the wreckage was confined to a 100 foot square area, indicating that the plane did not explode in mid-air, officials said.
Leaves Huge Hole
The half million dollar fighter plane cut a wide swath through the trees and left a huge hole to the soft ground about 10 feet deep and 30 feet long. The pilots body was found about 50 feet from the main fuselage of the plane. Air National Guard spokesmen said Woyciesjes was apparently thrown clear of the wreckage and killed instantly.
Rescue and fire units notified minutes before by control tower officials that the plane was in trouble, rushed to the scene guided by flames shooting more than 100 feet into the sky.
Rescue efforts were hampered however by tall trees and heavy brush. Fire trucks were forced to plow through the woods to reach the crash scene, but were unable to get within 100 feet of the wreck because of the swampy ground.
Firemen hacked their way through the woods carrying Indian pumper outfits on their backs to extinguish the blaze, which was not termed under control until about one hour after the crash.
Block Unauthorized
National Guardsmen and air police with rifles prevented unauthorized personnel from entering the crash area. Several high-ranking National Guard officers were kept out of the area until clearance was given. Lt. Col Curtis J. Irwin, commander of the 138th Squadron was at the scene in Khakis and a T-shirt, having been called from his home to investigate the crash. Col. Irwin identified Lt. Woyciesjes' body.
A board of officers will be appointed by the New York Air to investigate the circumstances surrounding the accident, a NYANG spokesman said.
The departments answering the call for help were Hinsdale, North Syracuse, Mattydale, Syracuse and detachments from the National Guard and Air Force firefighting squads assigned to Hancock Field. District Fire Chief Robert Mills directed operations.
Law enforcement agencies from the city, county and state as well as National Guard and Air Force police blocked off roads in the area and directed traffic on main roads surrounding the air base to permit clearance of emergency vehicles.
Lt. Woyciesjes was the son of Mr. and Mrs. Joseph Woyciesjes Sr. with whom he resided. A graduate of East Syracuse High School, he attended LeMoyne College and was presently enrolled at University College. He was employed by the New York Central Railroad where he was undergoing a foreman's training course.
Lt. Woyciesjes enlisted in the Air National Guard in 1959 and was commissioned a second lieutenant in March, 1961. He was a Graduate from Central Airways Flying School in Syracuse.
He completed pilot training at Webb Air Force Base, Tex., in Feb, 1962, and served at Phaisbourg, France, with the 138th during the recent Berlin Crisis call-up.
Surviving besides his parents are two brothers, Nicholas and Joseph Woyciesjes, Jr., both of East Syracuse, and two sisters Mrs. Kathryn Zadrovicz of Fairfield, Conn., and Mrs. Dorothy Mautz of Syracuse.