This page covers many aspects of AAB, It is where new material is posted periodically.
The format below shows the most current post at the top and oldest at the bottom. Each entry is also posted to its relative page. Don't forget that each star represents another link to additional pages, articles, documents and photos.
About this site...
Over many years, the past employee's, passengers and friends of Antilles Air Boats have told stories and have shared photos of that special time in history.
We hope that this website will give everyone an opportunity to continue to share their stories, photos and comments.
We will share our collection of specific material on aircraft Antilles Air Boats used over the years as well as the many professionals that assisted its passengers to get from island to island.
March 2025
updates
The AAB website began eight years ago this month.
I would like to thank the many visitors and contributors to this site, for it is you who have made it possible to tell the many stories with incredible images of those days gone by.
The website has allowed many past employees, family and friends to reunite and for me that makes the efforts worthwhile.
Keep the comments, stories and photos coming because as I have stated this site is a work in progress.
Tom Anusewicz
Charlotte Amalie, St. Thomas
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It is always exciting when a Goose finds a dedicated new owner that will take the time and funds
to restore it to flying condition. Especially when it had such a special history of flying at
Ellis Airlines, Alaska Coastal-Ellis Airlines and Antilles Air Boats. .
Kurt and Amy Bohlken took on this project several years ago in California. Restorations projects are not easy when you are in need of many parts and pieces for completion. I have confidence in this project. Kurt and Amy relocated from California to Roanoke, Texas for Kurt's work at American Airlines and the move required a workshop large enough to accommodate N74588 s/n 1165.
Southern Cross Aviation / Grumman Goose G-21A N74588 project at https://southerncrossaviationllc.com/
N74588
Roanoke, Texas
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The Pemberton Goose... revisited
N2945
and Reid W. Dennis
1926 - 2024
Last year, I posted a story about
Grumman Mallard
G-73 / N2945 / J-8 and its owner Frank Fuller but the story continued.
Reid Dennis purchased the aircraft in August of 1974 and maintained ownership for the next 45 years.
photo from Tom Anusewicz Collection
Read more about Reid's incredible business career and his aviation adventures.
photo from Tom Anusewicz Collection
Another photo of Grumman Mallard G-73 / J-4 N2940 long before it arrived at Antilles Air Boats and Virgin Islands Seaplane Shuttle.
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Irish post card
A newly acquired post card from Ireland.
S.25 Sandringham
VP-LVE
"Southern Cross" arrives in Foynes, Ireland on July 26, 1976 with Capt. Blair at the controls.
The education of
Charles F. Blair Jr.
A young Charlie attended high school in Buffalo and then went on to the University of Vermont.. His mechanical engineering degree gave him the tools to tackle the challenges in the years to come.
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1932
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Charlie's father was a Harvard Law School graduate and his mother got a degree from Cornell, so it was clear that the children would receive a good education.
T.C. Ryan's Flying School - San Diego, CA
Hutchinson Central Technical High School
Buffalo, N.Y.
The Blair residence Buffalo, N.Y.
exceprt from Robert Blairs interview
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It was stated in other bio's of Charles Blair that he made his first solo flight at 19. It was the summer after his freshman year (1928) that Charlie found himself at Ryan Flying School in San Diego, CA. That was the summer, that was the flght that changed Charlie forever. He returned to the University of Vermont with renewed direction. He was going to be a flyboy.
After graduating Charlie was commissioned as an
Ensign as a naval aviator. Now the real education begins.
Robert Noel Blair was Charlie's younger brother
Grumman Mallard N2974 / J-36
This Mallard didn't fly at Antilles Air Boats but did spend 3 months at Virgin Islands Seaplane Shuttle and like many of the Grumman amphibians there are many connections from those early aviators and their insight into what could be. The turbine Mallard was born with N2974.
Read more about J-36.
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The photo from the mid 1980's shows (l to r) Charles Freehling, Director of Maintenance, Fred Frakes, President of Frakes Aviation, and Mickey Braunstien, President of VISS standing in front of one of the several G-73T turbine Mallards that operated at Virgin Island Seaplane Shuttle. Fred Frakes visited VISS to ensure his Mallard modification met the operations requirements. Read more about Fred Frakes above at N2974.
photo credit Charles Freehling
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Neal Ruetz's
Grumman Widgeon
It was about 1978, when I received a letter from Mr. Ruetz requesting assistance with a model airplane project. When his project was completed he sent another letter and photos of his final efforts.
side-bar...
At the time, I didn't know much about Neal Ruetz but as I recently reviewed his letter and subsequent internet search, I became aware of how he found himself incarcerated for many years. There was quite a bit about his arrest, trial, escape, recapture, extradition, incarceration, appeals and final parole after 20 years. I didn't know why he chose to create a model airplane until I came across an obituary of his brother Marvin. Marvin was a member of Academy of Model Aeronautics, The Society of Antique Modelers and the International Miniature Aircraft Association and possibly influenced Neal to find a new focus. After that letter of December 1980, I never heard from Neal to know if he continued his next project...the Dornier Do X.
Dorner Do X
Early Text Messenger
Excalibur V
Operation Julius Caesar
Newley acquired photo with credit to APwirephoto
Mae Blair
1924 - 2023
Charlie Blair's second wife Mae passed away in 2023.
Read a little more
A Mae Blair essay1966
Blair Thorndike
*New York: Mrs. Janice Blair looks on as daughter Suzanne (R), 16, and Christopher, 10 months trace out route on globe taken by their father, Charles F. Blair Jr., veteran commercial pilot who flew non-stop from New York to London in 7 hours and 48 minutes to break the Trans-Atlantic record. Blair flew a souped-up single-engine Mustang fighter plane and averaged 450 mph.
Blair's grandfather Charlie, flew over the water between islands but Blair Thorndike paddled. This years crossing from Molokai to Oahu was Blair's 18th and at 60 years of age it is indeed inspirational. Blair has lived in Hawaii for his entire life and has been a waterman all of those years.
Suzanne married Walter Thorndike in 1956 and moved from Oakland to Honolulu in 1963 where Blair (named after his grandfather) got his first introduction to the Pacific Ocean.
Margaret was a close friend of Maureen O'Hara Blair and together they have told the story of this very special place along the River Shannon. Capt. Charles Blair flew the VS-44 Sikorsky from the U.S to Ireland in 1942 and in the Shorts S.25 Sandringham "Southern Cross" 34 years later. Charlie and Maureen's story continues to be told as part of Foynes important history. The museum has undergone a major expansion in 2023 with many items from Maureen.
Margaret O'Shaughnessy has been the Managing Director of the Foynes Flying Boat & Maritime Museum from 1987 to present. For over 37 years she has worked tirelessly to make the museum what it is today.
I hope to visit within the next few years.
Check out the videos and links to see more about Foynes Flying Boat & Maritime Museum.
Thank you Margaret for your dedication!
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Monday, November 11, 2024
historic collector series includes 25 diecast metal airplanes
of the highest quality and detail.
Back in the 90's, I was the Managing Director of Circle Rainbow Aviation -Honolulu, which sold jet fuel from Texaco. Being a dealer, I regularly received the latest airplane from the Texaco rep, John Miller. When the Goose was chosen as the next in the series, John new that would be my new treasure.
Grumman G-73 Mallard N83781
I recently acquired this image of N83781 but it was stated the photo was taken in August 2019, location unknown. The photo was most likely taken in March of 1978 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. The aircraft left Australia in late 1977.and was purchased by Jerry Harvey in 1978 but by the end of the same year it arrived in the U.S. Virgin Islands to fly for AAB. The trees without leaves in the background tell me it's cold. Minnesota was the only place with this paint scheme at this time period. The aircraft never flew again after an accident at VISS in.1986.
photo from the Tom Anusewicz Collection - Alamy license
photo credit Mick Bajcar
Mick Bajcar took this photo of N83781 sitting in Ft Lauderdale, Florida in June 20, 1978. I recognize that curtains are placed on the windows.(see more at A little story...) This imaged followed the one above taken in Minneapolis. Jerry Harvey (Minneapolis) purchased the Mallard on March 10, 1978 and then sold to Scholl Properties (Minneapolis) with registration dated May 1978. Dean Franklin had ownership before and after Australia. The above photo in Ft. Lauderdale has the aircraft sitting until Scholl sells to ANTL, Inc c/o Chalk's International Airlines, Inc. (Resorts International) on December 11, 1978 and ferried to Antilles Air Boats in St. Croix, U.S.V.I.
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In1977 -1978, J-4 changed registration, owners and location multiple times.
Check out the several documents posted here. For more documents, go to N83781.
The Jerry Harvey ownership was short lived as well as short on info. Maybe if it was Paul Harvey we would have "the rest of the story"
click on documents to enlarge
A Jerry Harvey interior
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Iron Eyes Cody (born Espera Oscar de Corti April 3, 1904 - January 4, 1999) was an American actor of Sicilian descent who portrayed Native Americans in Hollywood films.
One his most memorable performance was as the "Crying Indian" in the public service announcements for Keeping America Beautiful..
The ad was well known but also controversial.
As was many of his roles over time.
Marijane Sipple gave another presentation about Antilles Air Boats and American Inter-Island on Saturday, October 26, 2024 to the Florida First Coast 99s Chapter.
International Organization of Women Pilots
It was over 45 years ago when Marijane applied and received the 99s Amelie Earhart Scholarship Award to continue her pilot training.
Alway exciting to share AAB stories!
Ron & Graeme
Ron Gillies' son Graeme traveled from Australia to St. Croix back in 1979 to visit mom & dad. At the end of his vacation many of the staff signed a photo as a parting memento. Graeme recently sent a copy of his keepsake.
I will share more about Graeme and the Gillies family soon.
Just another beautiful day in St. Croix
A new slide arrived this week. The visitor that took this photo, seemed to be enjoying a little time at the Goose Grill at the seaplane ramp at Christiansted, St. Croix, before a departure to another island. The four engine flying boat "Southern Cross" sits elegantly in the calm harbor on another beautiful day. in paradise.
1975
Thomas G. Mooney Jr. was born over 100 years ago and lived an already full and interesting life before he died at the early age of 56. Tom had taken on a new job to add to his resume of being a pilot in WWII, Korea, Vietnam and then to Hollywood to fly aircraft for TV. The new job was flying the Goose at Antilles Air Boats. Before his training was completed, he and his AAB flight instructor, Dave Howard both died in an accident after departing St. John, USVI on April 5, 1978.
10/11/24
This week, I visited the grave of Tom Mooney at the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific at Punchbowl, Honolulu, Hawaii. Punchbowl is only a few miles from my home and I laid a flower lei in remembrance of his service and life. I had only just met Tom when he first arrived at AAB and was looking forward to hearing the many stories of
his flying in 3 wars and more.
I remember after the accident, Charlie Blair asked me to dive to the aircraft and dismantle the engines, control surfaces and components rather than bring the entire aircraft to the surface. It was hard to dive on site
after loosing both Dave and Tom.
Read more at N8777A.
Tom Mooney arrived on the set of "Baa Baa Black Sheep" being filmed in the Channel Islands of California, not to far from his home. He joined a team of experience pilots that would recreate the days of Pappy Boyington's squadron in the South Pacific.
Baa Baa Black Sheep was Tom's last flying for TV and film before leaving for Antilles Air Boats but it wasn't his first. Tom joined Tallmantz Aviation in 1966 and flew various aircraft for the Hollywood cameras.
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and many more
J. Fred Frakes
Don McDermott &
photo credit Charlie Freehling
above; Virgin Island Seaplane Shuttle's Chief Pilot, Don McDermott and Fred Frakes in St. Croix after the first turbine Mallard was delivered.
Frakes Aviation engineered the turbine modification and converted several Mallards from P&W 1340 radials to P&W PT6A turbines. at their facility in Cleburne, Texas.
Fred Frakes started flying 50 years before he delivered the G73T to VISS. His first Mallard was N2974 (s/n 36) and flew at Red Dodge Aviation in Anchorage, AK in1962. Years later that same aircraft was converted to turbine.
Marijane Howard Sipple has shared many thoughts of the days that followed the tragic death of her husband Dave. She recently sent a copy of a letter, she received several weeks after the accident, from Richard Kelly in Honolulu.
Marijane was a close friend of the Kelly's from her days of living in Honolulu, before returning to U.S. Virgin Islands to fly for AAB and American Inter-Island.
In 1982, I relocated from St. Croix to Honolulu and found it interesting that my circle of connections were similar to Marijane's.
Read more about her time in Hawaii.& USVI.
V.I. Daily News - April 7, 1977
Donna Nogard
sent in some new photos this week.
Donna and Al Nogard arrived at Antilles Air Boats in 1972. Donna worked in Accounts Receivable in St. Thomas and then took on Interline Sale Manager STT/STX.,
Al started flying as copilot in the Grumman Mallard before joining the American Inter-Island Airways team as a Captain in the Convair 440.
Above; AAB's PBY N2763A on the seaplane ramp in St. Thomas 1973.
Right; Antilles Air Boats makes an appearance at Carnival 1973.
It is always exciting when a past employee of AAB finds the website and contributes with new photos.
Grumman Mallards
Images of Antilles Air Boats airplanes continue to find there way to the website. These photos came from the United Kingdom this past week. Visitors to the U.S. Virgin Islands came from every corner of the world and they found AAB an exciting part of their trip. No doubt, the many photos that were taken over the many years, were of seaplanes going down the ramp or coming up. Based on these images they were taken before and after a flight between St. Croix and St. Thomas.
N26DF leaving STT and N7388 leaving STX
Charles F. Blair Jr.
July 19, 1909 - Sept. 2, 1978
Remembering...46 years ago
Arlington National Cemetery - Washington, D.C. - Grave Memorial
Christiansted, St. Croix
< A new slide arrived this week from Zurich, Switzerland. "Southern Cross" sitting by the many sailboats moored in Christiansted harbor.
1976
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Don McDermott was the Mallard guy, flying the Grumman icon for over twenty-five years. He flew for Antilles Air Boats as well as for Virgin Islands Seaplane Shuttle and then with Freeport McMoRan in Louisiana and beyond. Mac continues to fly seaplanes well into his retirement from his home in the Louisiana bayou.
"Mac"
The Mallard Guy
A little more about Lake seaplanes from another guy from down under.
Don McDermott's time at Freeport McMoran went far beyond Louisiana. We will hear more about his 18,000 mile G-73 Mallard journey to Indonesia in the coming weeks. Stay tuned.
Simon Wheeler recently inherited artwork from his grandfather, EJ Wheeler. The copper plate etching of AAB's "Southern Cross" by artist K. Hale is showcased at Simon's home in Albany, Western Australia.
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The Southern Cross, also known as Crux Australis, is the constellation that has been a symbol of Australia for thousands of years.
Copper etching 29.5" x 22.5 (750mm x 579mm)
Albany
It's one of the most distinctive constellations in the Southern Hemisphere and is almost always visible anywhere in Australia due to its postion near the South Celestial Pole.
EJ Wheeler was a qualified motor mechanic when he joined the Royal Australia Air Force (RAAF) in WWII. He served with the 458 Squadron in Africa and Italy and serviced the Vickers Wellington Bomber.
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EJ Wheeler had a passion for any type of aircraft and collected memorabilia over the years, one being the copper etching above.
Ansett Flying Boats Service"Islander" and "Beachcomber"
became Antilles Air Boats
"Excaliber VIII" and "Southern Cross" in 1974.
Stargazing
When the S.25 Sandringham and Sunderland were purchased from Ansett Flying Boat Service in 1974, new names were painted on each aircraft. The first name was easy. Charles Blair's important aircraft in his career were named "Excalibur", Next in line was "Excalibur VIII"
The second was also not difficult. Many of Blair's early flights required navigating by the stars. His North Pole experience gave way to his new southern hemisphere acquisition. So, he decided
Southern Star" would suit the big bird. The name was painted on the side in its final preparation for ferry to the Virgin Islands. Another star was his wife of six years, Maureen O'Hara and she thought a more fitting name would be "Southern Cross" being more significant to its history in Australia.
"Southern Cross" took off for the U.S. Virgin Islands on November, 28, 1974.
Southern Star/Cross images above are from R.N. Smith Collection. Thank you Bob for approving reposting.
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AAB Website Visitors
started clicking on March 21, 2017
and to date there has been173,000 visitors.
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March 2021 to present
A line graph showing daily visitors. The major bump in August 2021 was when I advertised with Facebook, but the cost was not doable for me. That one day cost me about $60. You can see when the site was shut down for two months and the return with less visitors. The visitor analytics is interesting and it shows me it has found those that have some interest in Antilles Air Boats. Thank you for your support.
AAB Grumman Goose N79901 c/n B-63
is being restored at the Flygvapenmuseum in Sweden. The museum has gone to great lengths to reproduce the Goose (c/n 1134) that flew for the Swedish Air Force from 1951 to 1962. See a little of the article at
Aeroplane - May 2024
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for full article go to
to purchase a copy of Aeroplane Magazine
New
New additions from the Bill Bailey Collection
above; N83781 J-4 in St. Thomas photo credit A. Janssen
below; Virgin Island Seaplane Shuttle's N632SS J-32 in St. Croix
photo credit Associated Press
Excalibur VIII
A Crew Manifest - DC-4 NC58021 11/15/46 started the story...
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Charlie Blair's "Red Ball in the Sky" Chapter 4 - In Search of Gold, tells the story of a military surplus C-54 and the subsequent charter flight in November 1946. But the story of NC58021 continued for several years. Read more about the DC-4 that was part of changing the world.
The harbor at San Juan, Puerto Rico
A new slide arrived from Switzerland this week. The S.25 Sandringham - "Southern Cross" sitting in San Juan Harbor. The photo was taken June 5, 1975, nearly fifty
years ago. I included additional photos of AAB aircraft in the harbor and all show the container port in the background. I also included some photos of the U.S. Coast Guard Air Station with the same view in the distance. The U.S.C.G. Air Station moved to Borinquen in 1971 and much of the old Navy and Coast Guard station became another container port.
Flying boats and seaplanes operated in and out of San Juan Harbor for many years starting back with Pan Am 's early Sikorsky's and U.S. Military PBY's and then to U.S.C.G. Grumman Albatross's. AAB arrived in 1964 and for nearly 20 years used the same seaplane ramps to get in and out of the water. I have many fond memories with the U.S.C.G. Air Station and AAB in San Juan. Such a long time ago.
As time went by more and more cargo would arrive in San Juan harbor and the container ports took over the majority of the harbor shore line.
2 Sikorsky's
in San Juan
photo from Tom Anusewicz Collection
See more about Antilles Air Boats San Juan of yesteryear and the marine terminals today.
San Juan Marine Terminals
The Crowley Isla Grande Terminal of today is an 87 acre facility which still includes the old Navy/Coast Guard hangar (AAB hangar removed) . The old neighborhood can still be recognized. Check out the videos.
Crowley Isla Grande Terminal
Puerto Nuevo Terminals
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Charlotte Amalie, St. Thomas, U.S.V.I
The above 1978 photo of Main Street (Kronprindsens Gade) Charlotte Amalie, St Thomas is from the Pam Am Collection and the Salt Lake Tribune Library 3/24/78
Grumman Mallard G-73 / J-35 / PK-AKD
Asiatic Petroleum Corp. used by Royal Dutch/Shell (NNGPM) in Indonesia 1948
photo from Tom Anusewicz Collection
J-35 flew for owners in Indonesia, Alaska, Miami, Bahamas & Australia with last flight in 2017
Capt. Charles F. Blair in AAB's Shorts S.25 Sandringham at Calshot, a coastal village in Hampshire, England in October 1977.
photo from Tom Anusewicz Collection / Alamy license approved for posting
J-1 NX41824 The first G-73 Mallard
S.25 "Excalibur VIII" in Sydney, Australia
before its departure for the U.S.V.I in 1974
new slide April 2024 Tom Anusewicz
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Operated by Antilles Air Boats
Some new photos of American Inter-Island's Convair 440's operating from St. Thomas, Virgin Islands and San Juan, Puerto Rico.
"American Inter-Island: the airline that started with a crash and ended by moving a mountain"
See more...
American Inter-Island
photo credits to Jan Koppen / approved for posting
2 Grumman G-73 Mallards and 2 Fullers
It was interesting that both J-6 NC2943 and J-8 NC2945 came off the Grumman assembly line in 1946 and both were purchased by Fullers. One to Fuller Brush (Connecticut) and the other to Fuller Paint (California). They both operated the Mallards for many years
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The purchasers of early aircraft recognized the opportunity to utilize the new equipment in business but it was always their sense of adventure and pursuit of the thrill that closed the deal. The newest amphibian aircraft on the market was drawing attention for many that could afford it.
J-6 NC2943
J-8 NC2945
photo from Tom Anusewicz Collection
photo from Tom Anusewicz Collection
Peruvian Air Corp
The 4th Peruvian Goose was s/n 1053 and registered as
2TP-4H (the previous 3 were 1H, 2H, 3H prospectively) when it arrived in Lima. It transferred to the newly created Peruvian Air Force in 1950 as 324 and then sold to Avalon Air Transport in 1958.
It was reregistered as N328 and flown between Long Beach and Catalina Island for over ten years before it was purchased by Charlie Blair and started flying at Antilles Air Boats in 1969.
more subsequent registration information on N328 page
N79914
photo from Tom Anusewicz Collection
Over the blue
The Shell Aviation News issue #422 from 1974 has an article "Over the Blue" and it was written by Jim Cothron, a Chalk's Airlines pilot. Jim also flew those Goose and Mallards that came to and from Antilles Air Boats in the USVI. See more about Jim at General Declaration ...
Connecting the dots.
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Royal Canadian Air Force
N4762C first flew with the Royal Canadian Air Force as 388 back in May 1944. The RCAF recognized the versatility of the Grumman Goose and took its first aircraft in 1940 and flew a total of 31 aircraft. Aircraft 388, while based in Sea Island, Richmond, B.C. (south of Vancouver) in March 1945, jump theh
N4762C
photo credit Rohivie / Demzizies Collection
chocks while conducting engine runs and ran over a 20ft embankment and overturned into the water. The aircraft was recovered and inspected and formally written-off by RCAF #3 Repair Depot in Jericho Breach, B.C. in July of 1945. Goose serial number B-60 was not finished. Bob Ellis brought it north and after several years of rebuilding, with many parts from other aircraft, N4762C was registered to Alaska Coastal-Ellis Airlines from Juneau, Alaska. In 1969, the aircraft was sold to Antilles Air Boats.
N4762C - Alaska Coastal - Ellis Airlines image approved for posting by the Ketchikan Museum Tongrass Historical Society
Jim Cothron
in G-73 Mallard
at Chalk's.
Goose flying over crew ship lane while departing St. Thomas in 1975
photo from Tom Anusewicz Collection
Isla Grande Airport, San Juan, P.R.
N609SS J-9
photo credit Bill Bailey Collection
Grumman G-73 Mallard J-9 was manufactured in November of 1946 and used as a demonstrator for two years out of Bethpage N.Y.
In November of 1948, J-9 relocated to the west coast with 20th Century Fox to appear in the movie "Slattery's Hurricane". It saw service with Pacific Western Airlines. BC Air Lines, West Coast Air Service in Vancouver, BC before heading south to Chalk's Flying Service in Miami. Frakes Aviation converted J-9 to G-73T (PT-6 turbine conversion) before it arrived at Virgin Island Seaplane Shuttle in 1984.
NC2946 / N2946 / CF-HPU / N123DF / N609SS
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photo from Tom Anusewicz Collection / Alamy license
The VISS Mallards in various state of un-airworthiness looked for an operator that could bring them back to the skies of the VI.
Read more below and at (VISS)
J-9 was charted for a flight to Venezuela were it was listed as damaged beyond repair after being blown ashore while anchored off shore in that South American country. Aircraft was dismantled and reported to have been taken to a "military airport". Presumed rebuilt and still airworthy but not registered. Cancelled from U.S. Civil Aircraft Registry 2012.
Virgin Island Seaplane Shuttle evacuated N690SS along with 2 other Mallard aircraft to Puerto Rico as Hurricane Hugo (Sept. 17, 1989) approached the Virgin Islands. After the storm, VISS operated for about 10 days before it closed its doors due to the severe financial issues.
photo credit Charlie Freehling
PBY
1968 - Christiansted, St. Croix - The PBY landed in STX, and while taxing hit the large drainage pipe flange in the harbor and damaged the hull. This was before the AAB ramp and terminal was completed,
so a crane was brought in to lift the aircraft for repairs.
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The early days of "Mother Goose"
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V.I. Daily News December 28, 1963
It is always nice to find a movie with a former AAB airplane. It is pretty special, when you find it includes scenes from the iconic Ellis Air Lines in Ketchikan, Alaska. N74588 flew the northern skies before it made it to the Caribbean. The movie, "Cry Vengeance" starts and ends with the Goose, which as far as I'm concerned, is the star. Check it out!
at Antilles Air Boats
In the movies...
photo credit Tom Anusewicz
Ellis Air Lines - Ketchikan, Alaska
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photo credit Allied Artist Pictures / Warner Bros..
Click on photos above to enlarge
"It started with a Mallard and the story found it's way of connecting others once again."
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The Johnson's
Martin & Osa Johnson and the Sikorsky S-38's
60,000 miles in Africa
N1208 - new slides Wein Air Alaska 1977 and Antilles Air Boats 1978
Newly acquired slide fromt he U.K. - G-73 Mallard N7338 ready to come up the ramp in St. Thomas.
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Marijane Sipple wrote a story about Veterans that worked at AAB and it was scheduled to be posted last November, but the website was offline for two months. We do not want to wait until later this year to read
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Peter R. Keating
1928 -1998
Grumman Mallards that flew at AAB.
Peter Keating flew for British Overseas Airways Corporation (BOAC) / British Airways for three decades accumulating over 25,000 flight hours in many different aircraft. Those flights took him to numerous locations around the world and he always had his camera to photograph aircraft along the way.
Thanks to Colin Higgs from "A Flying History" for his assistance
Ron Gillies and the last Atlantic crossing of Southern Cross
1981
Ultan Guilfoyle produced the interview of Ron Gillies on the Sandringham, the airplane that was part of Ron's life for many years.
photo credit Ultan Guilfoyle
Large format post card 9" x 6" by Fritz Henle
The King of Bling
Farouk of Egypt
A Grumman Mallard story that is not about Antilles Air Boat's fleet but with only 59 aircraft built, every G-73 was followed by operators with interest... spare parts anyone.
In 1949, construction numbers J-47 & J-48 were produced and sold to Egypt's Royal Flight (3rd Squadron, Egyptian Air Force) with an extravagant interior fitting for a King. They were part of the Farouk's fleet of personal aircraft until his exile in 1952.
The aircraft (J7 & J8) were transferred to regular service with the Egyptian A.F. until 1966. One was used for parts for the other. It is documented that their fate is unknown.
AAB started operating Mallards in1974 and within a couple of years, started inquiries to the whereabouts of the Egyptian aircraft. I remember we were told that they were in the desert under a lot of sand...somewhere.
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F8
F7
Fred J. Knights and Colin R. Smith's book has more on these 2 aircraft. Awesome reference!
from "The Grumman Amphibians"
Grumman photo by Harold G. Martin via PJ Marson
photo credit unknown via Air Pictorial / The Grumman Amphibians
photo from Tom Anusewicz collection
New slide of visitor with Goose in STT
1968
Another world leader
with an amphibian, back in the day.
s/n 1187 Cuban Navy 1942-1954
Another large format post card 9" x 6" with an inscription by Fritz Henle, that this original was ready for production
Bill Bailey Collection 2023
Christiansted, St. Croix seaplane base - Grumman Mallard N7356
photo taken from departing Grumman Goose
Co-Pilot Jim Flannagan prefight's "Southern Cross" during its trip to Ireland
Shorts S.25 Sandringham
from the Delani Collection
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AAB makes a cameo appearance in 1970 film with Charles Bronson, Jill Ireland and Telly Savalis.
N95467 flew at Amphibian Air Support in Long Beach, CA from1947 to 1949. Many years before it flew at AAB. It still flies today in the Northwest. See more about this Goose.
Catalina Goose and N95467
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Remembering
It was just eight years ago on October 21, 2015, that Maureen passed at the age of 95,
It was another October day in 1941 when
"How Green Was My Valley" was released.
Over 50 films, plus television,
publisher, businesswoman
A life well lived... many memories.
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Veterans Drive
Charlotte Amalie, St. Thomas U.S.V.I.
Cool cards!
SOLD OUT
The Grumman Albatross SA-16 / G-111
The "Flying Boat" film has been shown in limited theaters this past year but now is available on DVD as well as streaming on Amazon Prime
Check out their website flyingboat.com
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Grumman J2F Duck
photo credit Paul Waikander
The Grumman Duck N3960C flew the skies of the Caribbean between Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands in 1966 to 1974
It was Jack Brown flying the Duck and the aircraft seemed to find itself around AAB Gooses from time to time.
Jack Brown started flying seaplanes at an early age and when WWII arrived, he was ready to fly Grumman's flying boats. Jack started a seaplane training facility in 1963 in
Winter Haven, Florida
which is still training pilots today.
See more about the DUCK and Jack Brown.
N3960C
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Jack Brown
I'm a duck, not a mallard, not a goose... but birds of a feather should flock together.
Virgin Islands Daily News - June 15, 1968
Thank you to Anthony Gagliani for his assistance with N3960C info
New images...
AAB flew the skies of the Caribbean for 17 years, flying over 340,000 fights and nearly 3 million passengers. Even though the last flight was over forty years ago, remembering those days live on. Many people locally as well as from around the world, took that special photo of one of many seaplanes that flew at AAB. Those photos continue to find their way to this website. I have received images from Finland, Japan, Australia, and the list goes on. Scroll down through "About this Site" to find the various photos and maybe a little story that came with it.
S25 Sandringham "Southern Cross" Christiansted, St. Croix
Mid-day... Gooses prepare for departure from STX.
Goose at West End, Tortola
Bill Bailey Collection 2023
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Flock and gaggle...
AAB St. Thomas Seaplane Base - Charlotte Amalie
A busy ramp with 5 Gooses, 1 PBY Cataline and 1 VS-44 Sikorsky sitting on a cradle.
Microsoft Flight Simulator is the longest running PC video games of all time. Hundreds of aircraft and locations available for the user in virtual flight.
AAB Goose N79901 was used for one of the programs. A few images and video posted here as well as other programs using AAB aircraft.
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The U.S. Virgin Islands and Antilles Air Boats have been the backdrop for fashion shoots for years.
In August 2023, the
13th Annual Fashionista was, once again, held in St. Thomas with many events. Sheen Magazine was one of the sponsors, which also held the USVI Beauty Competition at St. Thomas Social. The Goose at Yacht Haven Marina was the back drop for 6 beauties vying for the title.
1976
2023
There were other photo shoots during the AAB years and I will try to post in the future.
47 years earlier, Gentleman's Quarterly Magazine did a fashion shoot with AAB aircraft.
Flip Blair, the second wife of Capt. Charles Blair, was one of the passengers on board the last flight of N8777A on April 5, 1978.
Flip and her friend June Clark shared their story with the The Hour, a Norwalk Connecticut newspaper, in the days that followed the accident.
Read more below.
from Anthony Gagliani
Another N8777A passenger comment...
The Daily News - 3/29/74
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from Anthony Gagliani
Over the years, Antilles Air Boats worked closely with the USVI Department of Labor to offer apprenticeship and training for local residents. Gerald D. Boyce (24 years old) a Vietnam Vet, worked at the AAB sheetmetal repair shop at the Alexander Hamilton Airport.
passed away in 2020 at the age of 70..
Today, Claude Austin at the age of 87, lives in Port St. Lucie, FL
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August 3rd
Brunch with a Beat
The Antilles Air Boats Goose is the backdrop for those that busted out with their best moves at St. Thomas Social at Yacht Haven Marina.
Super Cat in St. Thomas
- San Juan, Puerto Rico
Isla Grande
Aeroplane Magazine - July 2023
Personal Album features Phillip Pain's photos from a 1979/80 visit to Isla Grande Airport in San Juan, PR.
AAB operations in San Juan were adjacent to the Isla Grande Airport and originally next to the Naval Air Station (which included the U.S. Coast Guard Air Station). The location gave AAB another downtown to downtown terminal with ready made seaplane ramps.
Click on above article for additional info
and more about Isla Grande >
photo credit Tom Anusewicz
Thanks to Anthony Gagliani for sending on the Aeroplane Magazine article.
Earlier days...
Pan Am's Ford Trimotor (Tin Goose) flew into Isla Grande back in 1929. Read a story from the
Beaufort News 11/14/29.
The image of Pan Am's Sikorsky S-42 landing in San Juan. circa 1938. Not a photograph but an illustration.. The aircraft on the horizon would have been gigantic. The seas would be to rough to land outside of the mouth of San Juan Harbor. None the less a nice image of S-42 and El Morrow.
Pan Am's Douglas DC-4 flew into Isla Grande during the 1940's into the 50's. In 1952, a Pan Am DC-4 (N88899) had a serious fatal accident shortly after taking off from Isla Grande.
Read more below..
1948 photo of Isla Grande. Recognize the San Juan Terminal lower left with a number of aircraft on the ramp. Pan Am's seaplane terminal today is the Pan Am Pier for cruise ships. The Navy Base in the center of photo with two large hangars, which later house the USCG and AAB.
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1939
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Glenn Arveson
Victor Borge at his residence on another beautiful Christiansted day. The Goose would take-off in view each day. Victor was on the board of directors at AAB. The photo was taken by another resident... Fritz Henle
See more about Victor Borge at "Staff & Friends"
D.C.Nicholas, an aircraft illustrator from Great Britain, drew many aircraft during the 70's.
An Irish Excursion
Capt. Dan Morrison
Dan arrived at AAB in November of 1973 and flew the Goose until the business closed in 1981. The former Air Force pilot enjoyed his years flying between the islands.
The Daily News - 12/14/73
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YOUNG SWIMMERS board a plane Saturday for St. Croix and time trials, sponsored by the V.I. Swimming Foundation at the Olympian Pool. The meet, for middle division swimmers will be followed by other contests in the near future.
N74588 or N74676 or N79914
from Anthony Gagliani
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July 2022
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Newley Acquired Slides
The photo above is Goose N323 ready for boarding at the Christiansted, St. Croix terminal. It is also ready for new paint and check on oil on horizontal stabilizer from left engine. Round engines drank a bit of oil and spit some out along the way.
Slide came from Australia.
The photo below is Sandringham S25 "Excalibur VIII" in Rose Bay, Sidney, Australia before its departure to the USVI in1974.
The b&w photo is the aircraft's first roll into the sea after extensive preparations, when AAB took possession from Ansett. Slide came from Canada.
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R.N. Smith Collection credit (copyright)
Over the years, Antilles Air Boats established a number of post cards depicting some of the iconic seaplanes in its fleet. Fritz Henle of St. Croix was contracted to take the photos. See more post cards at "Timetables, Post Cards and more..."
The Daily News - 6/26/69
from Anthony Gagliani
Curbside landmark for over eight years.
Another eBay find. New old slide of N40R from February 1967 at Pan Am Alley in Christiansted, St. Croix
from Anthony Gagliani
Active duty soldier, Jeff O'Connor sent in a polaroid photo of "Southern Cross" at its dock in Christiansted, St. Croix. Jeff found the photo in the back of the frame of one of his grandmothers paintings.
Thank you for the photo and your service.
David Attenbough in British Guyana with Goose VP-GAD
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from Anthony Gagliani
Short flights in the Harbor...
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The Daily News was the TikTok of the times. Always ready to click
V-227 / N4OR
So many of AAB Gooses flew the skies from coast to coast and from north to south. Goose construction number B-19 flew for only 26 years and only in the southern skies. As V227 with the U.S. Coast Guard at the Miami Air Station and then several years around Ft. Lauderdale before heading to the U.S. Virgin Islands.
Ellis Goose N74676 computer generated images.
Will credit original artist when identified.
Interesting photos.
U.S.C.G. Air Station Miami after the Gooses left in 1954 and started flying the Grumman Albatross
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Moiliili, Honolulu, Hawaii
I was the guest speaker at the Pan Am Association - Aloha Chapter's April meeting. PAA's membership is primarily former employees of Pan Am. Charles F. Blair Jr. flew for Pam Am for many years , retiring in 1969. I gave a presentation about Capt. Blair and the AAB website.
above: PAA President, Darlene Laster & Tom Anusewicz
Grumman products were considered so reliable and ruggedly built that the company was often referred to as the "Grumman Iron Works". Good thing for me. Sterling Archer
April 22, 2023 - After six years of posting to the AAB website I thought I would reach a point of where I was getting to the end. I stated it is a work in progress and it certainly is. As time has gone by, more and more people have found the website and share their photos and stories. There is more to come. Stay tuned.
Marijane Sipple sent in a copy of AA Travel Agency News from August 1977 detailing
American Inter-Island operations between STX-STT
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Steve Kerns remembers listening to Lord Melody on the radio in St. Thomas back in 1979. Steve flew for American Inter-Island. He just sent in a Lord Melody tune for posting. Enjoy!
A Grumman Goose that was only 35 years old when it sank of the coast of St, Croix in 1978.
In those 35 years, N74676 flew the skies of Alaska and the Caribbean.
Below is a new photo by Peter F. Peyer from Bill Bailey's collection. Bill has contributed many images of AAB aircraft.
photo credit John Schmidt
A computer generated image of N323 flying at Avalon Air Transport. This aircraft arrived at AAB in 1970.
Anthony Gagliani and his son Jeff visited the Antilles Air Boats display at Yacht Haven Grande in St. Thomas on March 20, 2023. Anthony is an aviation historian and a regular contributor to the AAB website. He is originally from St. Thomas and is back on island visiting family. Thank you for sharing the photos of the GOOSE, Jeff and yourself. See the display board...click
Charlotte Amalie, St. Thomas
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Suzanne Thorndike
1934 - 2022
As time goes by, I have connected with those family members that continue to tell the stories of their mom, dad or uncle or aunt that worked at Antilles Air Boats. This past month, I connected with Charles F. Blair's grandson, Blair Thorndike. What I found most incredible was that he lives just a mile from my home in Honolulu. His mother, Suzanne was the eldest daughter of Charles & Janice Blair. Suzanne passed away in 2022. I have lived in Honolulu for the past 40 years and I wish I had the opportunity to know her. I will share more about Suzanne
and family soon.
Generations...
Andy Whyte's Print
There is more than one story regarding Andy Whyte's print #209 of 900.
Read about the artist, the print, the signatures and a little more.
N41881
photos by Norm Russell
Groundhog Day
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Will continue to add to Generations
Check out "Excalibur III" and NASM
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Pan Am Pavilion..."the smallest airport in the world"
Norm Russell served in the Navy during the war in Vietnam and upon discharge found St. Croix to be a great place to start the next chapter. He worked at a local radio station while learning how to fly at Bill Bohlke's V.I. Flight School, after being encouraged by Nick Castruccio
Norm's photos above were taken back in the early 70's of AAB's first seaplane ramp in Christiansted, St. Croix.
"Mac"
Capt. Don McDermott
AAB&VISS
Foxy's Wooden Boat Regatta
By Marijane Sipple
"About this site" is where periodic updates and revisions are posted. Each week or so, I have posted new material , which over the past years have accumulated to hundreds of pages and thousands of images and documents that pushed the data to a point that it needs better management. I am working on various solutions that will allow the continuation of all material to be posted with out compromising the optimum versatility. The "About this Site... page 1 " is the early posts for the first few years of the website. click to continue to view the many post and links.