Jet Plane Crashes

Article taken from The Mansfield News Journal, March 5, 1958

Ironton (UP) - An F-s6-L jet fighter plane crashed and burned near the Scioto-Lawrence County line today while on a routine flight from the Lockbourne Air Force Base near Columbus.

The pilot, First Lt. George Kersey Jr., 22, St. Louis, apparently ejected himself from the stricken craft and landed just over the two-county line near Ironton. He suffered back and neck injuries and was taken to Lawrence County General Hospital. His condition was fair.

Found In Woods

Lawrence County sheriff's deputy Gene Smith said the plane crashed and burned in Scioto County off Ohio 522 in the vicinity of Wheelersburg. Kersey was found injured in a woods about 12 or 14 miles north of Ironton, by residents in the area, who spotted him coming down. Kersey said he was in a group of three F-86-L's on a routine flight from Lockbourne where they were part bourne where they were part of the 87th fighter interceptor squadron.

He said "something happened" to his tail section which caused him to go out of control. Kersey said he believed part of the section dropped off.