2LT JOHN W. MASON, USAF

Class 1958

Born September 10, 1936

Died December 14, 1959

Age 23

Hometown Industry, New York

Lucky Bag Yearbook

From the 1958 Lucky Bag:

JOHN WILLIAM MASON

Another of the many New Yorkers to establish residence within our gray walls, Jack was always a boy who enjoyed living to the utmost. He was never one to let things bother him and he seemed to do everything well. You could always find him on those long fall afternoons over on windy Hospital Point or Upper Lawrence Field playing soccer or on any weekend taking in a good movie. Academics were never hard for Jack, giving him a lot of time for extracurricular activities, to which he devoted many hours, whether it was the Russian Club or the Honor Committee. He hopes to fly after graduation, and eventually to work in guided missiles. We wish him the very best of everything.

Loss

“Jack” was lost on December 14, 1959 “when his F-86 crashed near Moody Air Force Base in Valdosta, Georgia. He was a member of the 3550th Crew Combat Training Wing.

Other Information

From researcher Kathy Franz:

He was returning from a training mission in an F86 interceptor plane when the plane nosed to earth about 4,000 feet short of the runway.

A requiem mass was said for him on December 19 at the State School in Industry where as a growing boy he helped rehabilitate errant boys. His parents were cottage parents at the state school. Since the age of 9, he was a steadying influence for many of them.

Arline was his high school sweetheart, and they married on June 21, 1954, in the chapel of the Industry School.

John graduated from Rush-Henrietta High School where he ranked fifth in his class of 56. He was president of his class and played basketball, baseball and soccer in high school. He received his Naval Academy diploma from President Eisenhower.

He is buried in New York. Jack is survived by his widow, the former Arline Teschner… a son, John Charles, and his parents.” (Information from March 1960 issue of Shipmate.)

Photographs

From the Democrat and Chronicle on December 16, 1959

From the Democrat and Chronicle on June 22, 1958

Donald Meyer ‘58 was also in 4th Company.

Class of 1958

John is one of 28 members of the Class of 1958 on Virtual Memorial Hall.