131st Fighter Interceptor Squadron History | New England Aviation History

Southampton, MA – July 18, 1964

July 3, 2017

Southampton, Massachusetts – July 18, 1964

F-86 Sabre – U.S. Air Force Photo

On July 18, 1964, a flight of four Massachusetts Air National Guard F-86 Sabre jets were returning to Barnes Airport after a gunnery training mission. One of the Sabre’s was piloted by Captain John H. Paris, 33, of Newburgh, New York.

As the jets approached the airfield, Paris’s aircraft suddenly lost power and dropped out of formation. Captain Paris ejected, but his parachute failed to open. He fell into Pequot Pond and was killed.

Meanwhile, his F-86 came regained level flight and belly land on its own in an open field about 2 miles northeast of the north end of Runway 20 at Barnes Airport; about 700 feet east of Ross Road. The aircraft sustained major damage but there was no fire.

Captain Paris was part of the 131st Fighter Squadron.

Source:

Providence Journal, (R.I.), “Flier Killed In Crash As Thousands Watch”, July 19, 1964

Larry Webster, Aviation Historian, Charlestown, R.I.

Quabbin Reservoir Land – April 3, 1955

December 12, 2016

Quabbin Reservoir Land – April 3, 1955

Town of Petersham, Massachusetts

F-94 Starfire
U.S. Air Force Photo

On April 3, 1955, 1st lt. Dewey B. Durrett, 25, of the Massachusetts Air National Guard, took off from Barnes ANG base in Westfield, Massachusetts, for a navigational training flight. He was piloting an F-94A Starfire jet, (#49-2552), assigned to the 131st Fighter Interceptor Squadron based at Barnes. The weather was poor, requiring IFR (Instrument Flight Rules).

Lt. Durrett left Barnes at 12:02 p.m. By 1:25 p.m. he was on his way back to Barnes when he was instructed to land at Westover Base in Chicopee, Massachusetts, because it was snowing at Barnes. Lt. Durrett acknowledged, but not long afterwards radar contact with his aircraft was lost due to weather conditions.

The tower at Westover tried to reestablish contact through standard means and was unsuccessful. At about 2:15 p.m., being unsure of his position, and the fact that the aircraft was now very low on fuel, Lt. Durret was advised to bail out.

When his chute deployed and he came out of the clouds, Lt. Durret saw that he was over the Quabbin Reservoir. The F-94 crashed in a wooded area on reservoir land within the town limits of Petersham.

Lt. Durrett landed safely in a thickly wooded area. After accessing his situation, he carried his parachute to an open area where he spread it on the ground so it would be visible from the air. He then placed a rescue dingy on top of it to hold it in place, and began to hike his way out of the woods.

Lt. Durrett had a successful military career, and eventually retired from military service a Lieutenant Colonel. (To read a biography of Lt. Col. Durrett, see www.findagrave.com, Memorial #72272325.)

Source: U.S. Air Force crash investigation report, #55-4-3-3

The crash site of the F-94 can still be seen today. It is against federal and state law to remove any portions of the wreckage from the crash site.

Click on images to enlarge.