Study of New York Lake Turns up Boat, Jet Wrecks

A research project linked to the cleanup of a heavily polluted upstate New York lake is turning up some interesting discoveries.

An archaeological study of the bottom of Onondaga Lake has revealed numerous boat wrecks and shoreline infrastructure dating back to the late 19th century. The sonar scans have also located an Air National Guard fighter jet that crashed into the lake in 1955 after taking off from Syracuse’s Hancock Field. The 23-year-old pilot was killed.

The Post-Standard of Syracuse reports the study was conducted for Honeywell International Inc. as it prepares to begin dredging the lake of industrial contaminants.

Honeywell is expected to spend more than a half-billion dollars cleaning the lake, which was polluted for decades by heavy industries around its shoreline.