By Jorge Batlle
Skaneateles Village Historian
In the afternoon, of April 28, 1956 around 2:30 p.m., an Air National Guard Lockheed T-33 jet trainer, after circling over Five Mile Point, flew north over Skaneateles Lake. Witnesses said that it flew at a very low altitude down the center of the lake. After climbing vertically to about 500 feet, it then came to a complete stop, nosed over doing a few “falling leaf” turns, went into a spin, never pulling out, then plunged into the lake, and disintegrated.
The pilot, Second Lieutenant Gordon W. Simonds, 25, of Westvale, NY was a member of the 138th Fighter Interceptor Squadron, stationed at Hancock Field in Syracuse. None of the many witnesses saw any sight of the pilot ejecting from the plane. The plane went down near Jones Beach, off East Lake Road, about three miles south of the village. The depth of the lake there is about 180 feet.
Many fishermen were on the lake in the area at that time, but none were injured. Others were thankful that the plane did not hit a house was the only positive thought about the tragedy. When rescuers arrived on the scene there was a thick layer of oil on the water and a few floating items. One was the wing tip section with the wing tank attached. Local doctor, A. C. Rauscher, in a nearby boat, recovered the pilot’s helmet.
Mr. & Mrs. Edson Simonds, the pilot’s parents, left their cottage on East Lake Road, about one quarter of a mile from the crash site, and rushed to the scene. So overwhelmed by the event taking place, they were treated by local Dr. Robert Horne, as searchers plied the cold waters looking for their son’s body.
Aqua Kings of Syracuse, a skin diving group, spotted the wreckage – describing it as a twisted mass of metal. Commander of the New York Air National Guard, Lt. Colonel Curtis J. Irwin, said that the pilot’s body was not seen in the wreckage. The Skaneateles Fire Department and the fire department’s Auxiliary responded to assist where they could. Other fire departments and their auxiliaries also assisted. Local merchants provided food, beverages and supplies.
State police were taking all debris found into custody to aid the Air National Guard officials in determining the cause of the mishap.
- L. Schooley Construction Company of Auburn sent a “duck” amphibious vehicle and air compressor assist the diving and salvage operations. Crouse Hinds provided powerful underwater lights. According to Colonel Irwin, six divers from the U.S. Navy Salvage School at Bayonne, N. J. using a heavy specially equipped Navy raft, were able to attach grappling hooks to the wreckage. Bad weather and high waves breaking over the raft made salvage efforts very dangerous. The Schooley duck hauled in the wreckage.
The weeklong search and recovery ended, at 5 p.m., Saturday, May 5 when the body of Lt. Simonds was removed from the plane. The local physician’s report sent to the Onondaga County coroner’s office said the cause of death was “accidental.”
A board of officers under the supervision of Major Howard Willoughby, was been established to determine the cause of the accident that was witnessed by many fishermen and residents around the lake.
A memorial service was held at the Camillus Baptist Church. It was attended by 80 members of his Squadron. Following the church service, a private committal service was held at the parent’s Skaneateles Lake cottage. A wreath of red roses was cast upon the lake’s waters. It was followed by a flight of six jet planes from Hancock Field flying over the lake, dipping in salute, and returned back to Hancock Field.
