The technicians were being transported by helicopter from Boston to Norwood Airport, where they were to work on upgrading the phone system at the Norwood State Police Head-quarters, Gibbs said.

Funeral services for Perry, Mattaliano, and Howell were scheduled for Saturday. Perry's Mass is scheduled for 10 a.m. in at St. Joseph Church in Salem.

The Mass for Mattaliano will be celebrated at 1 p.m. at St. Elizabeth's Church in Milton. Howell will receive last rites at 10 a.m. at St. Brigid's Church in Boston. Funeral arrangements for McCarthy were not available last night.

Flags at State Police headquarters will be flying at half-mast for the next thirty days, and officers will be wearing a small black sash around their uniform badges as a symbol of mourning, according to Capt. Robert J. Byrd, commander of public affairs for the state police.

The deceased officers will also be honored at their funerals with a gun salute, the playing of bagpipes, and, "ironically, there will be a helicopter fly-over," Byrd said.

"It's a time of reflection; you reflect upon your own mortality," Byrd said. "This makes us realize we must appreciate people when they are alive, not after they have died."

Gibbs said AT&T representatives spent Wednesday consoling the families of Howell and McCarthy. Workers also sent flowers and will be collecting donations.

"This is not a company where someone goes off to work in the morning expecting any risk other than the normal risk of going to work," she said.

'Attempting to Regroup'

As aviation officials sift through the helicopter's wreckage, members of Harvard's sailing team are looking for ways to salvage their upcoming racing season.

"First and foremost, we're concerned about the victims and their families. Secondly, we're attempting to regroup and move on with the season," said Bryan T. Agnetta '96, the team's captain.

The helicopter crashed directly upon the roof of the tiny two-story barge, tearing a large gash in the ceiling and western wall and also damaging the storage and launching systems.

Sailing team members use the 4,629 square foot building as a headquarters, storage and training facility. The team's fleet of forty boats was housed inside Wednesday.

Boats are hung from a unique storage system which enables solo boat launchings, said Michael S. Horn '63, the team's head coach.

One of the boats suffered structural damage when it was knocked from the hangar and wedged between two rafters. Although rescue officials covered the area with flame-retardant foam, none of the sails were damaged, Horn said.