Vanderbilt Cup Races

The Frank Femenias call outs of the aerial photo of June 24 1938 did not expand after the click on like the other’s photo were able to do? why?
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Howard Kroplick

Mark, give it another try.

From Motor Parkway Survey Bookmap C: The Western Terminus in Fresh Meadows, Queens

Booth Memorial Avenue was formerly known as North Hempstead Turnpike? Interesting. Parts of NY 25A are now known as North Hempstead Turnpike. Today there is no trace of the old North Hempstead Turnpike south and east of Horace Harding Blvd./the LIE.

From Motor Parkway Survey Bookmap C: The Western Terminus in Fresh Meadows, Queens

Another give-away.  Too big to be Willie’s Douglas Dolphin.  Unmistakeably Howard Hughes special Sikorsky S-43, now restored and at Kermit Weeks’ Fantasy of Flight Museum in Florida (NASM has a JRS-1).  Also unmistakeable is Hughes himself, walking away from an older Sikorsky S-39.  Location ISN’T Eagle’s Nest in Centerport - too flat.  Hangar doesn’t look like Port Wash./Manorhaven/Tom’s Point seaplane base.  North Field (LaGuardia) Marine Air Terminal (Term. A)  didn’t open until 1939.  Pearl Harbor?  Hmm?  Sam, III

From Mystery Foto #13 Solved: Willie K's Seaplane at Port Washington Marine Base in 1938 & Howard Hughes

“Auto Polo”?  OMG!  I’d forgotten all about that.  I saw auto polo played at Cedarhurst Stadium or the Freeport track with late ‘30s cars (junkers) and a huge (6’?) ball, ca. 1948.  How I love these posts!  Keep ‘em comin’, folks.  Sam, III

From Kleiner's Korner: The Motor Parkway in Advertising Part II

Broken record!  I’ve never found those missing photos showing the RoW extending west to 193rd or so but I clearly remember them showing cars on an extra lane on the south side of Nassau/HH Blvd. between Peck and 193rd/194th.  ???  Sam, III

From Motor Parkway Survey Bookmap C: The Western Terminus in Fresh Meadows, Queens

Howard, I’m sure anyone with even just a passing interest in the Motor Parkway appreciates the posting of these maps. Particularly interesting on this one is the terminus planned in 1912.  At the time Black Stump Rd. in this part of Queens,  was the best connection for eastbound automobile traffic. When the decision was made to extend the Parkway westward from Rocky Hill Rd., things had changed.  The plan now was to have the western terminus of the Parkway at the new Nassau Blvd. The problem with taking the Parkway north from the original Black Stump Rd. terminus was the Fresh Meadow Golf Club on the north side of Black Stump Rd. Vanderbilt had Kienzle write the club to inquire about the possibility of taking the Parkway north thru the golf course to reach the proposed Nassau Blvd.  You can guess what the club’s response was. It was at this time the decision was made to take the Parkway northward east of today’s 199th St. The Parkway was fortunate in that there were only two parties to deal with in acquiring the ROW to reach Nassau Blvd. The plan at first was to take the ROW straight north. Then the Parkway discovered it would have to build a bridge over the old but still existing Central Railroad ROW before they could get to Nassau Blvd. To avoid this very expensive situation the Parkway approached the Fresh Meadow Club about the possibility of acquiring a small piece in the northwest corner of the course. This would allow the Parkway to angle the ROW and the North Hempstead Tpke. bridge north westward to Nassau Blvd. without crossing over the Central Railroad ROW. Fresh Meadows agreed to do so but it cost the Parkway dearly, but still much cheaper than building another bridge. The Parkway acquired an acre paying $10,000 for the parcel. The cost to purchase the other properties for the new ROW was $3500 an acre. The Parkway also had to rebuild a green for the golf club which cost the Parkway another $1000 and paint the south side of the North Hempstead Tpke. bridge white and on a regular basis. Again, thank for posting the maps.

From Motor Parkway Survey Bookmap C: The Western Terminus in Fresh Meadows, Queens

The hat, the age, the slouch, the plane. It was either Howard Hughs, or a good impersonator. By the way, the plane looks like the forerunner of the PBY used during the War.

From Mystery Foto #13 Solved: Willie K's Seaplane at Port Washington Marine Base in 1938 & Howard Hughes

The person to the right,I believe,is Amelia Earhart.The photo maybe Oyster bay near Sagamore hill.And I’m going to guess that the plane is a Grumman design,though I have no proof.

From Mystery Foto #13 Solved: Willie K's Seaplane at Port Washington Marine Base in 1938 & Howard Hughes

The notes at the top indicated that Queens Rd. was renamed to Hollis Hills Terrace. However, it was renamed Hollis Ct. Blvd. first, and then became Hollis Hills Terrace sometime after the LIE cut off Hollis Ct. Blvd; possibly when the Cleraview went through in 1964. I grew up in a newly built home (1953) on 199th St and 51st Ave. The future site of my boyhood home can be seen on two of the maps. PS 162, where I went to Public School, opened in 1936 and can be seen in the photos. It is at 53rd Ave and 201st St. Before the LIE was constructed, the intersections of Horace Harding Blvd., Francis Lewis Blvd. (which was subsequently extended south to Hillside Ave. and opened just after the War) and Hollis Ct. Blvd. was a nightmare.

From Motor Parkway Survey Bookmap C: The Western Terminus in Fresh Meadows, Queens

nice job

From Motor Parkway Survey Bookmap C: The Western Terminus in Fresh Meadows, Queens

Here’s a picture of the interior for the Sikorsky

From Mystery Foto #13 Solved: Willie K's Seaplane at Port Washington Marine Base in 1938 & Howard Hughes

Best guess on the seaplane: it’s a Loening owned by Roy Grumman.

Or a Sikorsky flying boat

From Mystery Foto #13 Solved: Willie K's Seaplane at Port Washington Marine Base in 1938 & Howard Hughes

Sikorsky S-43 , don’t know, North Beach or Port Washington? Howard Hughes, Pan Am got started?

From Mystery Foto #13 Solved: Willie K's Seaplane at Port Washington Marine Base in 1938 & Howard Hughes

Listing Showing S-39A with a registration # of N807W.

From Mystery Foto #13 Solved: Willie K's Seaplane at Port Washington Marine Base in 1938 & Howard Hughes

Conflicting answers on previous blogs between the seaplane being Willie K’s. or Harold Vanderbilt’s.  But I’ll go with it being Willie K’s Sikorsky S-43, NC16925 of which he took around the world and eventually was destroyed in a crash in Trinidad.  Photo taken at Centeport.

Other seaplane (807W) is a Sikorsky S-39A.

From Mystery Foto #13 Solved: Willie K's Seaplane at Port Washington Marine Base in 1938 & Howard Hughes

Wonderful material, as always. I’ve inquired for many months as to why can’t the images be larger, via the links, as many are of no value to really see, especially the maps)? No response. Do others concur with this issue? Best, Steve
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Howard Kroplick

Steve, thanks for the comment. The website was built 12 years ago and is currently being upgraded to a new platform. Hopefully, it will increase the size of the images.

From Motor Parkway Survey Bookmap C: The Western Terminus in Fresh Meadows, Queens

Had no clue but found some answers on this website and from Gary Hammond. Willie K’s Sikorsky S-43 amphibian seaplane (NC 16925, serial# 4314) at Sands Point Seaplane Base, Manhasset Bay 1938. This plane was later used by the US Army Air Corps Sep 1941 during WWII. It crash landed 2 months later at Corcorite Bay, Trinidad Nov 5 1941, killing all five persons on board. Looks like Howard Hughes next to Mr. Beutenmuller, exiting the 1930 Sikorsky S-39A single engine amphibian (NC 807W, serial# 909). Not sure if Hughes owned this plane. He later owned another twin engine S-43

From Mystery Foto #13 Solved: Willie K's Seaplane at Port Washington Marine Base in 1938 & Howard Hughes

1. Identify the seaplane, its model and owner:
As I had previously submitted in the VCR Blog of 6/9/2018:
According to: https://www.thisdayinaviation.com/tag/dayton-wright-airplane-company/
“William K. Vanderbilt II’s Sikorsky S-43 amphibian, NC-16925, serial number 4314. This airplane was impressed by the U.S. Army Air Corps 14 September 1941 and designated OA-11, 42-001. It was destroyed in a crash landing at Corcorite Bay, Trinidad, 5 November 1941. All five persons on board were killed.”
I then checked: http://www.joebaugher.com/usaf_serials/1942_1.html
for the aircraft serial number and confirmed the above:
S/N 42-1 Sikorsky OA-11 MSN 4314.  Civilian S-43 purchased by USAAF Sep 14, 1941.  Was originally NC16925.
W/o after crash landing in Cocorite Bay, Trinidad Nov 5, 1941.  All 5 aboard killed.
2. Where was the Mystery Foto taken?
I think it’s the Port Washington Seaplane Base on Manhasset Isle (Manorhaven).
3. What historic events happened at this location?
If it is Port Washington, it was the site of many aviation firsts (see Bill Kaiser’s The Development of the Aerospace Industry on Long Island, Vol. III – A Chronology, Hofstra, 1968).  Here’s a sampling:
• On Sept. 19, 1917, a hydroaeroplane altitude record was established in a Wright-Martin plane at Port Washington.
• By 1920 Curtiss built aircraft were flying out of Port Washington.
• On August 16, 1921,a Loening monoplane Flying Yacht, carrying 4 passengers, established an altitude record for hydroaeroplanes of 19,500 feet.
• In 1929, the American Aeronautical Corporation was formed in Port to manufacture Savoia-Marchetti flying boats.
• In 1930, Capt. Frank M. Hawks piloted the 1st glider released from a seaplane at Port.
• In 1932, the 12 engine Dornier DO-X flying boat took off for its return trip to Europe and aboard was the second women to fly the Atlantic, Antonie Strassman.
• On June 16, 1937, regular N.Y. to Bermuda service was established by the arrival of the Imperial Airways flying boat Cavalier, carrying 14 passengers.  Pan American would make its initial flight to Bermuda with the Sikorsky S-42 Bermuda Clipper.
• During 1938 numerous catapult seaplanes made trips between Port Washington and the Azores.
• On May 20, 1939, the Pan American Airways Yankee Clipper took off from Port, launching transatlantic commercial flying.
• By 1942, Grumman was working out of Port.
• In 1951, Republic Aviation Corporation established a facility at Port.
• This site would later become the home of Thypin Steel.  The large copper wings from the Pan Am hanger were given by them to the Cradle of Aviation Museum in the early 1980’s.
4. Kudos question: Identify the seaplane and famous person seen with William Beutenmuller:
As I had identified in a previous VCR Blog post (8/5/2015) - The photo is of a Sikorsky model S-39A, s/n 909, reg. NC807W, built ca. 1930.  One of these aircraft (NC803W) has been restored and is on display at the New England Air Museum, Windsor Locks, CT.  Another one of these was used by the CAP at Base 17, Suffolk Airport during 1942-43 on coastal patrol looking for German submarines, etc.

I believe the famous person is Howard Hughes.

From Mystery Foto #13 Solved: Willie K's Seaplane at Port Washington Marine Base in 1938 & Howard Hughes

Acknowledgement by the Nassau Board of Supervisors of an incorrect tax assessment for 1919 for the property that was conveyed by the Hempstead Plains Company to the US Government for Mitchel Field.  The tax was cancelled and the property termed exempt.

From Kleiner's Kolumn: Part I-Mapping the Motor Parkway, Mitchel Field & Mitchel Gardens

No idea about the seaplane or the people. The place must be the marine base at Port Washington, where Pan Am launched its “flying boats” for trans-Atlantic flights. The first scheduled trans-Atlantic mail delivery by Pan Am was the Yankee Clipper to Portugal, via the Azores, in May, 1939. I found a few pictures online that look like the building in the Mystery Foto. Pan Am later shifted its operations to the Marine Air Terminal at LaGuardia.

From Mystery Foto #13 Solved: Willie K's Seaplane at Port Washington Marine Base in 1938 & Howard Hughes