TUNING UP A U. S. ARMY AEROPLANE          SERIES NO. 12          222671 [date unknown]

Port residents the Littys sit on the wing of a Vultee BT13 at the Deer Park Airport (which no longer exists) on Long Island.  For more information on the Deer Park Airport, see "Abandoned & Little-Known Airfields" (scroll down). Photo from

Photo from the collection of Willard Baker.

The back of the postcard reads: REPUBLIC'S F-84F Thunderstreak fighter-bomber.  Armed with six .50 caliber guns and more than 6,000 pounds of external armament.  Carries nuclear weapons.  Powered by J-65 turbojet engine with 7,200 pounds of thrust.  Speeds over 650 mph. 

The Dixie Clipper, a Boeing 314 flying boat operated by Pan American, was in service from 1939-1950. See our post featuring artist John T. McCoy's rendering of the Dixie Clipper here.

The "Bermuda Clipper" had the Pan American number NC16735.

Paul Kotze (second from left) and other volunteers crafted a replica Sperry Messenger plane from original plans for Nassau County's Cradle of Aviation Museum.  Read more about the Sperry Messenger and the replica on the Crade of Aviation website here:

[CLICK IMAGE TO ENLARGE] PORT WASHINGTON, U.S.A.                   PAA AIRPORT NO. B-335-4 REMARKS: Station operated by Pan American Airways - At present used as port of entry for U.S.A.-Bermuda services by Pan American Airways & Imperial Airways - Image from the Pan American World

This flying boat, manufactured by the Short Brothers and called the Cavalier (each individual plane was given a name that started with "C") carried passengers between Long Island and Bermuda in the late 1930s until it was lost January 21,

In Sands Point, members of the club await the start of the sixth annual seaplane cruise of the Long Island Aviation Country Club. The Club was based in Hicksville, but eliminated after World War II with the development of Levittown.  For

In 1994 the abandoned Republic Aviation Corporation plant was demolished.  It looked nothing like it did below, circa 1953. Top photo from the collection of Guy LaMotta. I feel very bad about it, like the place has been desecrated.  I spent a

The name Grumman on a part or plane means the same to the Navy as Sterling on silver means to you - "Rear Admiral McCain, US Navy" Photo from the collection of the Grumman Corporate Archives.

The Cavalier flying boat made journeys from London to New York to Bermuda from 1937 until 1939, when it made a tragic crash landing in the open sea.  Read an account of the accident here, from the February 6, 1939

To commemorate the achievement of the first commercial survey flights made across the North Atlantic jointly by Pan American Airways and Imperial Airways* *Forerunner of British Overseas Airways Corporation Piloted by Captain Harold E. Gray, the Pan American Sikorsky S-42B Clipper flying

Martha Myskowski, on right, and Betty Relli were members of Port Washington's championship riveting team.  They hold the crowd spellbound as they bang their way to a new record of 19.2 rivets per minute.  The contest was held at the

Photo from the Estate of Joseph Gaeta.

The plant was located on Manhasset Isle. Photo courtesy of of the Estate of Joseph J. Gaeta.

Photo from the Estate of Joseph Gaeta.

Photo from the Grumman Corporate Archives.

On September 6, 1922 Glenn H. Curtiss successfully flew his sail plane for the first time, in Manhasset Bay.  The plane had no motor and relied on wind and a tow-boat to bring it up to speed.  This photograph was

William B. Atwater, early Port Washington aviator, entered races, flew to Bermuda, and set speed records. He also had a bit of legal trouble, according to this New York Times article from August 28, 1915: W.B. ATWATER FACES JAIL; COURT DOUBTS AVIATOR'S

Aerial view of Republic Aviation Corporation, located on Manhasset Isle in Port Washington from 1950 to 1958.

The Dornier Do X was the largest and bulkiest flying boat at the time of its production in 1929.  For other impressive views of this aircraft see the photos at Airliners.net or  a scale model of the plane at Hobbylinc.com. Photo

Typical of the air thrills at the time is Billy Bomar hanging by his hands from a strut of a New Standard over Manhattan. Photo from the collection of Frank Strnad.

View of Manhasset Bay, in front of Pan American hangar on Manhasset Isle.  Notice the flying boat that just landed! The hangar floors were absolutely without a grease spot on them anywhere, the docks and floats were freshly painted, and a

Built by Sikorsky Aircraft Co., this plane was used for Pan American's first flights from Port Washington to Bermuda in 1937 and for transatlantic survey flights.

This seaplane was owned by Ray Profitt, of Ray Profitt Seaplane Base.  The photograph was taken by Everitt J. Hehn Insurance, of 51 Main Street in Port Washington, in July 1949. If you're interested in learning more about this aircraft check

Republic RC-3 Seabee that belonged to Ray Profitt, owner of Ray Profitt Seaplane Base, being taken out of the water by a crane.  The photograph was taken by Everitt J. Hehn Insurance of 51 Main Street, Port Washington and is