NAS Rockaway - Circa 1919
US Navy Photo
(Click on image for a larger view)
Naval Air Station (NAS) Rockaway was one of the U.S. Navy's original
Naval Air Stations. Operational between 1917 and 1930, it was staffed
with as few as a handful of men to as many as a maximum of 1,285 men.
Over 80 buildings and several large hangars were constructed. Fort
Tilden's battery of four 12 inch mortars were also located inside the
boundaries of the 96 acre NAS Rockaway.
The famous Navy-Curtiss NC type "Nancy" flying boats of NAS Rockaway
were the first aircraft to cross the Atlantic. Due to the inadequate
fuel capacity of the NC aircraft, the aircraft landed many times to be
refueled by pre-positioned Navy ships. This flight was a triumph in
1919 and remained so until 1927, when Charles Lindbergh made his solo,
non-stop flight from Roosevelt Field, Long Island, NY, to Paris.
In addition to the NC aircraft, the base also had F-5-L, HS, and N-9
Squadrons, as well as dirigibles, free balloon, and kite balloons. NAS
Rockaway was also used as an advanced training facility for Navy
aviators.
The following chronology is derived from U.S. Navy on-line historical
records, a review of original records in the National Archives Record
Groups 45 and 72, selected NY Times stories, and a review of the
original logbooks (1919-1920) of the NAS Rockaway:
Apr 16, 1917
The City of New York grants the Navy a permit to occupy
it's Rockaway property.
Jun 14, 1917
The establishment of patrol stations along the Atlantic
coast was implemented as the first contract for base construction was
let. The contract covered sites on Long Island located at Montauk,
Rockaway and Bay Shore.
Dec 12, 1917
In a test to determine the feasibility of carrying fighter
aircraft on dirigibles, the C-1 lifted an Army JN-4 (Jenny) in a wide
spiral climb to 2,500 feet over Fort Tilden, N.Y., and at that height
released it for
a free flight back to base. The airship was piloted by Lieutenant George
Crompton (Naval Aviator #100), Dirigible Officer at NAS Rockaway, and the
plane by Lieutenant
A. W. Redfield, USA, commanding the 52nd Aero Squadron based at Mineola
(Long Island,
NY).
Jun 5, 1918
SWEEP ATLANTIC FOR U-BOATS AND VICTIMS; Airplanes, Dirigibles, Patrol
Boats, Chasers, and Artillery Protect Coast. MINEOLA, L.I., June
4.--Thirty airplanes, some of them equipped with high explosive bombs,
patrolled the southern coast of Long Island from dawn to sunset today on
the lookout for U-boats or for survivors of vessels destroyed by German
submarines. No traces of any kind were discovered by the patrols.(NY
Times)
Jun 5, 1918
CITY LIGHTS OUT IN AIR RAID TEST; Aviators Make Observations Preliminary
to Possible Darkening of Streets. ANTI-AIRCRAFT GUNS READY System of
Siren Signals Arranged to Warn People of Danger from the Skies. BIG CITY
LIGHTS OUT IN AIR RAID TEST. Electric signs and all lights, except
street lamps and lights in dwellings, were out in this city last night
in compliance with orders issued by Police Commissioner Enright at the
suggestion...(NY Times)
Jul 10, 1918
GERMAN BOMBS ON SHORE.; Six Found at Rockaway Point Supposed to Come from Raider. (NY Times)
Aug 24, 1918
A collision of two HS-2L Flying Boats (A-1273 and A-1175)
resulted in the deaths of 3 persons at Rockaway NAS. The HS-2L is a
biplane flying boat with a single pusher (rear mounted propeller) Liberty
330 horsepower engine. The HS-2L had a crew of three men and was ordered
by the Navy in 1918. The design is a version of the Loughheed Brothers
(later called Lockheed) F1 Flying Boat.
Sep 11, 1918 Click here to see the patrol map from a
typical day of HS-2 aircraft on patrol from NAS Rockaway. Four patrols
at approx. 10 a.m. and four patrols at approx. 7 p.m.
Oct 22, 1918
The twin-engine dirigible C-1, commanded by Major B. L.
Smith, USMC, and with crew consisting of Lieutenant R. A. D. Preston,
USNRF, Lieutenant (jg) D. T. Hood, USNRF, Ensign W. L. Hamlen, USNRF,
Ensign M. H. Estorly, USNRF, and two civilian mechanics, M. Roulette and
James Royal, was delivered at NAS Rockaway, having flown that day from
Akron, Ohio, via Washington, D.C. The Aero Club of America later awarded
Smith and Hamlen its Medal of Merit for this flight.
At the end of WW1, there were 24 seaplanes and two dirigibles stationed
at Rockaway NAS.
Nov 1918 - Status of NAS Rockaway
1,200 Enlisted men
105 Officers
40 Seaplane Pilots
8 Dirigible Pilots
25 Kite Balloon Pilots and 45 Students
24 "Bombing Planes"
Nov 27, 1918
The NC-1 took off from Rockaway Beach, N.Y., with 51
persons aboard, establishing a new world record for persons carried in
flight.
Jan 18, 1919
RADIO TELEPHONE DIRECTS AIRSHIPS; Demonstration by Navy in Opening
Campaign for War Savings Stamps. PLANES DO AS INSTRUCTED Change Course
While Flying in Heavy Mist on Orders from Roof of Equitable Building. A
demonstration in directing aircraft by radio telephone was given
yesterday from the roof of the Equitable Building. It was arranged by
the navy as a feature of the opening of the $2,000,000,000 War Savings
Stamp campaign. The radio communication was between a group of men on
the roof of the Equitable Building and Navy Dirigible A242, escorted by a
formation of airplanes... (NY Times)
Feb 1, 1919
1,500 MEN FIGHT FIRE AT AVIATION CAMP; Whole Plant at Rockaway Point
Imperilled by a Wild Outburst of Flame. 8 HYDROAIRPLANES BURNED Two
Buildings Destroyed, with Heavy Loss--25 Liberty Motors Wrecked Beyond
Repair. Bucket Brigade Helps. Navy Dirigible Saved. A fire, which
started from the explosion of a gasoline torch in the hands of a workman
yesterday, destroyed two buildings and threatened for a time to wipe
out the Naval Aviation Station at Rockaway Point. The property loss was
heavy, some persons asserting that it...(NY Times)
Feb 25, 1919
GM 2C Frederick Joseph Reardon, USNRF and Ch Btsn's Mate Eugene Briggs
Dedrick, USNRF were killed at the Rockaway NAS when a bomb exploded.
Apr 5, 1919
Commander R.W. Cabaniss takes command of the Rockaway Naval
Air Station and remains until November 7, 1919.
Apr 5, 1919
NC-3 FAILS TO FLY IN ROCKAWAY TEST; Navy Seaplane Sticks to Water, Owing
to the Balky Motor. RUSHING WORK ON NC-4. Men Who Are to Make
Transatlantic Flight Selected--Commander Towers Their Chief. The NC-3,
one of the seaplanes which it is hoped will bring to the United States
the honor of being the first to fly the Atlantic, refused to leave the
water yesterday at Rockaway Beach. The test was made in the late
afternoon, and the machine, loaded with 29,500 pounds, sped around
Jamaica Bay ...(NY Times)
Apr 24, 1919
NC-3 TAKES AIR CARRYING NINE; Navy Seaplane's Successful Trial Arouses
Hopes of Transatlantic Victory.WEATHER GIVES A CHANCE British Planes May
Be Held in Newfoundland Until Our Airships Are Ready to Start. The
possibility that the United States may be the first to start an airplane
on a transatlantic flight and get away bofore the climatic conditions
permit the Sopwith and Martinsyde biplanes to leave Newfoundland was
discussed by ...(NY Times)
May 5, 1919
At 4:10 p.m., HS1 seaplane A-1692 with pilot Ensign Hugh Jacob
Adams and assistant pilot Chief Machinists Mate Harlod B. Corey fell
into a tail spin and landed on a hydrogen tank. Both were killed
instantly.
May 5, 1919
NAVY FLIERS START TODAY FOR HALIFAX DESPITE ACCIDENTS; On Eve of "Hop
Off" HS-1, Flying Over Station, Falls, Killing Two Men. FIRE DAMAGES TWO
PLANES Flight Commander Says the Weather Is Ideal and Two Machines Are
Ready to Go. THIRD FOLLOWS TOMORROW Rush Repairs to Elevators of NC-4
and to Upper and Lower Right Wings of NC-1. NAVY FLIERS START TODAY FOR
HALIFAX DESTROYERS OFF FOR POSTS. Leave Trepassey to Patrol Flight Route
to the Azores. The eve of the scheduled departure of the naval
seaplanes for Newfoundland, on the first leg of the first American
attempt, to fly across the Atlantic, was saddened late yesterday
afternoon when a HS-1 type of seaplane, which was manoeuvering above the
Rockaway ...
(NY Times)
May 8, 1919
At 10 a.m., three, Navy-Curtiss, flying boats departed Rockaway NAS to
begin the first trans-Atlantic oceanic crossing. Only the NC-4 completed
this historic journey.
Also see the The First Across OrganizationMay 17, 1919
MISSING BLIMP C-5 GIVEN UP AS LOST; What British Steamer Thought an
Airship Believed to Have Been an Iceberg. LAST SEEN ENTERING CLOUD May
Sink Through Loss of Gas or Explode Through Expansion Caused by Sun.
Doubt C-5 Was Seen After Sundown. MISSING BLIMP C-5 GIVEN UP AS LOST
Coil to Ask Another Chance. OFFICIAL REPORT OF MISHAP. Unavoidable, Due
to Wind Conditions, Commander Coil Says. ST. JOHN'S, May 16.--Reports
that the missing American dirigible C-5, which broke loose here
yesterday and disappeared, had been salvaged by a British steamer having
proved unfounded, American and British naval officers have given her up
as lost. (NY Times)
Jun 5, 1919
Three F-5-L aircraft 3616, 3336, and 3578 depart for
Hampton Roads, Va.
Jun 7, 1919
F-5-L aircraft 3336 departs for Hampton Roads, Va. (may have
had mechanical difficulties on June 5, 1919)
Jul 4, 1919
Seaplane 1884 crashes off Manhattan Beach.
Jul 17, 1919
"7:45 p.m. Received a call from Kennedy's dock at Rockaway
Point that an Army plane had crashed near there. At 7:50 p.m. SP #179
left the station for Rockaway Point to pick up the men and plane."
Captain Flogel and Lt. Duke, US Army, were slightly injured and departed for
Mineola, Long Island the next day.
Jul 17, 1919
NC-4 TO TAKE AIR ON RECRUITING TOUR; Seaplane Will Be Disassembled at
Central Park Today. WILL FLY UP MISSISSIPPI Naval Officers Attribute
Increaes In Recruits Here to Airship's Presence. After being on
exhibition in the sheep meadows at Central Park, about opposite
Seventieth Street, for the last two weeks, the NC-4 will be disassembled
today, and in four or five days will be taken to Rockaway Beach, where
she will be thoroughly overhauled. When this is completed the seaplane,
with the... (NY Times)
Sep 11, 1919
Flying Boat type F-5-L number 3596 is transferred to
Rockaway NAS. The F-5-L is a biplane type flying boat with two tractor
(forward mounted propeller) engines.
Sep 18, 1919
Flying Boat type F-5-L number 3612 was transferred from
Rockaway NAS to the Navy Yard.
Sept 20, 1919
Flying Boat type F-5-L number 3606 arrives at Rockaway NAS from
Philadelphia.
Sept 24, 1919
After it's historic flight, the NC-4 was put on display in the summer of
1919. It was returned to
service and returned to NAS Rockaway after a flight from Atlantic City,
NJ on this date.
Oct 18, 1919
Flying boats F-5-L 3606 and 3596 depart for Burlington, Vt.
HS2 1919 and 2240 depart for Albany, NY, and free balloon #5605 departs
with four persons aboard.
Oct 26, 1919
Aircraft H16 #854 arrives from Pensacola, Fl.
Oct 27, 1919
Aircraft F-5-L #3610 departs for New York.
Oct 28, 1919
Aircraft H16 #858 arrives from Pensacola, Fl.
Nov 7, 1919
Commander R.W. Cabaniss turns over command of the
Rockaway Naval Air Station to LtCDR Archibald H. Douglas.
Nov 11, 1919
Aircraft H16 3597 arrives from NAS Hampton Roads, Va.
Nov 12, 1919
Aircraft H16 3336 and 3597 depart for Chatham, Mass,
and an experimental triplane arrives from Mineola, NY.
Nov 15, 1919
F-5-L 3606 and 3610 (type F-5-L) arrive from Portland,
Me.
Nov 16, 1919
F-5-L 3596 arrives from New Haven.
Nov 24, 1919
F-5-L 3662 and 3859 arrive from USS Atlantic Air Dept.
Nov 30, 1919
HS2 1919 "turned turtle while taxying(sic) in bay". The
aircraft overturned and no injuries were incurred.
Dec 2, 1919
Aircraft 3606 (type F-5-L) arrives from Hampton Roads,
Va.
Jan 4, 1920
The NC-4 was damaged by ice brought in with the
tide.
Jan 13, 1920
Dirigible B-10 arrives from Cape May, NJ.
Feb 25, 1920
At about 3 p.m., MF seaplane 4417 with pilot LtJG H.T. Stevens and
Machinists Mate 1st Class
E. F. Lindsay (mechanic) crashed from an altitude of about 1000 feet
striking nose first on the
cement road. Both occupants were killed.
Feb 28, 1920
Free Balloon S-16 leaves on a flight with and later lands
in Disrael, Quebec, Canada. Free Balloon A-5605 also left on a flight
and later landed in Canaan, NY, while Free Balloon A-5598 also left on a
flight and later landed in Orleans, Vt. Each balloon had 3 persons
on board, a pilot, an assistant pilot and a passenger and arrived the
day following the launch from Rockaway.
Mar 11, 1920
Flying boats F-5-L 3597 and 3617 arrive in Hampton Roads
from Rockaway.
Mar 14, 1920
The lower right wing of flying boat F-5-L 3597 is damaged
by ice.
Apr 11, 1920
Flying boats F-5-L 3596 and HS2 1211 and 1691 depart for
Atlantic City, NJ from Rockaway and all return the same day.
Apr 19, 1920
2:45 p.m. HS seaplane 1817 crashed from a turn and a spin
from an altitude of 300 feet, off the Army pier near west end of beach.
LtJG Richard W. Thompson killed. Thompson was a student Naval Aviator
on a solo flight. The aircraft fuselage broke in two pieces, and the
engine was salvaged. For almost two weeks the beaches were patrolled
and
a grapple was used in attempts to find the body of LtJG Thompson. The
logbooks do not contain any entry indicating if the body was ever
located.
Apr 30, 1920
Seaplanes #3606 and #3610 (type F-5-L) arrive from
quarterly long distance flight.
May 2, 1920
Seaplane N9 #2622 left for a local flight to observe the
eclipse of the moon with Professor David Todd.
May 3, 1920
FLY UP 3 1/2 MILES TO WATCH ECLIPSE; Naval Aviators Ordered to Observe
Moon Pass Through Earth's Shadow. PROFESSOR TODD ASSISTS Make Report to
Navy Department--Crowds in City See Phenomenon. The eclipse of the moon
last night was observed here by Lieutenants J.H. Tilton and W.H. Cushing
of the naval air station at Rockaway Beach at a height of nearly three
and one-half miles. (NY Times)
May 4, 1920
Civilian Seaplane #39-B, Aeromarine, piloted by Mr. Griswold
and Mr. Daugherty landed enroute from Philadelphia to Boston.
May 8, 1920
Dirigible C-10 left Chatham and arrived at Rockaway.
May 14, 1920
Flying boats F-5-L 3589 and 3617 arrive from Hampton
Roads.
May 15, 1920
Flying boats F-5-L 3589 and 3617 return to Hampton
Roads.
May 21, 1920
Free Balloon A-5605 left on a flight and landed in Baldwin, Long Island,
NY, with 3 persons on
board, a pilot, an assistant pilot and a passenger.
May 22, 1920
Flying boats 3606 (type F-5-L) and 2622 (type N9) departed
for Atlantic City, NJ.
May 23, 1920
Free Balloon A-5598 left on a flight and landed in Winslow Junction, NJ,
with 3 persons on
board, a pilot, an assistant pilot and
a passenger. Flying boat N9 2622 broke free from it's moorings and was
damaged at Atlantic City.
May 24, 1920
Two carrier pigeons return to station, one from free
balloon with message "Just hit Jersey coast 1/2 hrs flight, Hillside,
NJ, signed E.C. Hulett" and
one from F-5-L plane 3606 with message "Leads are wrong on
radio set from Rockaway all O.K. no sig"
May 25, 1920
Flying boat F-5-L 3596 departs for Atlantic City with
spares for N-9 and then returned to Rockaway.
May 27, 1920
Flying boats 2622 (type N9) returns from repairs in
Atlantic City, NJ.
May 29, 1920
Flying boat 3610 (type F-5-L) departs for Atlantic
City, NJ. Carrier pigeon returns with message #1 reading "10:50 am,
Haven't let out antenna yet. (probably a trailing wire, low frequency
radio antenna mounted on a reel.)
May 29, 1920
Flying boats 3606 and 3610 (type F-5-L) at Atlantic
City, NJ, with engine trouble. Both returned to Rockaway the next
day.
Jun 7, 1920
N-9 Seaplane 2607 arrives at Rockaway from Cape
May, NJ.
Jun 8, 1920
Flying boats 3606 and 3610 (type F-5-L) arrive from
Annapolis, MD.
Jun 18, 1920
A reversible pitch propeller designed by Seth Hart and manufactured by
the Engineering
Division, Army Air Service was installed on the C-10 airship at Rockaway
Beach. Test were
conducted both in the hangar and in the air. When first tried out, this
propeller was found very
useful, but after being in use for a short time, it was found that the
pitch of the propellers was
unequal and that they caused excessive vibration. It wa necessary to
remove them and from the
C-10 and replace them with the standard Lang propellers. The Hart
propellers were shipped to
McCook Field, Dayton, Ohio, for further experiments.
Jun 19, 1920
Dirigible C-10, three F-5-L, one HS2, and
two N-9 aircraft left for North River for Police Aviation
Inauguration.
Jul 1920
An NCL Steam operated kite balloon winch was successfully tested aboard
the U.S.S. Lardner
by a kite balloon from the NAS Rockaway. This winch was designed for use
on
destroyers.
Jul 5, 1920
Flying boat 3596 (type F-5-L) made a flight under extremely
bad flying conditions up the Hudson River to Poughkeepsie NY on the
occasion of a celebration at that place.
Jul 16, 1920
Free balloon A-5598 made a training flight to Great Neck, Long Island
after flying for 6 hours and
45 minutes.
Jul 17, 1920
Two F-5-L Seaplanes and dirigible C-10 observed the International Yacht
races off Sandy Hook.
Reports of the races were radioed from the aircraft. Included as
passengers in the C-10 were
photographers of the Pathe Film Company, International Film Company, and
a reporter from the
Saturday Evening Post. The duration of the flight was 8 hours and 30
minutes.
Jul 21, 1920
While at the International Yacht races, dirigible C-10 sustains a rip in
the top of it's envelope and makes a forced landing in Jamaica Bay, no injuries were reported, but the envelope was destroyed.
REPORTER DESCRIBES HIS 3,000-FOOT FALL; Glad He Was Not Ordered to Make
Parachute Leap Instead of Descending with Ship. Blimp Dives Into the
Water. Ballast Thrown Overboard. NAVAL AIR STATION, Rockaway, N.Y.,
July 21 (Associated Press). Disaster overtook the naval blimp dirigible
C-10 today just after she had flashed out a radio telephone report that
the racing yachts Shamrock IV. and Resolute were off on their third
race.
(NY Times)
Jul 21, 1920
Flying boat 3610 (type F-5-L) sent to search for lost DH4
missing from Mitchell Field, Long Island, NY. The lost Army plane was
later found by a destroyer.
Jul 26, 1920
Seaplane 3606 (type F-5-L) left for Philadelphia.
Jul 26, 1920
Dirigible B-10 B-19 lands at Fort Totten, NY, with engine
trouble and then returns to Rockaway.
Jul 28, 1920
Seaplanes 2512 and 2519 (type N-9) Arrive from Naval
Aircraft Factory (NAF), Philadelphia.
Jul 28, 1920
Seaplane 3610 (type F-5-L) lands at Coast Guard Station
#74 with a broken connecting rod.
Jul 28, 1920
Free Balloon 5605 lands in Durham, Conn, after a flight of 15
hours.
Jul 28, 1920
Seaplanes 3597 and 3334 left for Hampton Roads.
Aug 10, 1920
Free Balloon A-5605 left the station.
Aug 12, 1920
Seaplane 3610 (type F-5-L) arrives NAF Philadelphia.
Aug 12, 1920
Seaplanes 2806 and 2519 (type N-9) left and returned from New
Rochelle.
Aug 14, 1920
Seaplane 3606 (type F-5-L) arrived from NAF Philadelphia.
Aug 15, 1920
Free balloon A-5605 made a landing in Fitzwilliam, NH, after a flight of
18 hours.
Aug 21, 1920
Seaplanes 89 and 93 (type F-5-L) from U.S.S. Shawmut arrive
and then return.
Aug 21, 1920
Seaplane 2512 reported drifting near Coney Island.
Aug 22, 1920
Seaplane 2608 left to search for 2512 and both later returned.
Aug 23, 1920
Free Balloon A-5605 left for a night flight, wind from the east. After
15 hours and 10 minutes,
the balloon landed in Middletown, Delaware.
Aug 28, 1920
Dirigible B-19 left and then returned from an exhibition
flight at a Police Day celebration.
Sep 4, 1920
Free balloon A-5598 made a landing in Passaic, NJ, after a flight of 6
hours and 30
minutes.
Sep 15, 1920
Seaplane 3610 (type F-5-L) arrived at NAF
Philadelphia. 59 carrier pigeons were in use at NAS Rockaway.
Sep 25, 1920
Dirigible B-19 is deflated.
Oct 15, 1920
Dirigible C-10, seaplanes 3606 and 3610 (type F-5-L)
participate in Fleet tactical training Problem #11.
Oct 22, 1920
Seaplane NC-8 arrives due to damage incurred. After repairs it departs
NAS Rockaway on Nov
9, 1920
Oct 25, 1920
Seaplane 3596 (type F-5-L) arrives at NAF Phildelphia.
Nov 25, 1920
Dirigible C-10 was to be used to take pictures of Aero
Races at Mineola, Long Island, NY.
Nov 26, 1920
Seaplane NC-2 arrives at NAS Rockaway.
Nov 29, 1920
Seaplane NC-2 departs, Free Balloon A-5605
departs.
Dec 1920
The complement of the station was 377 men.
Dec 13, 1920
Free Balloon A-5598 was launched from the Rockaway Naval Air Station. No
further report was
received until January 2, 1921, when the balloon was reported as having
landed 20 miles
northeast of Moose Factory, Canada on Dec 14, 1920. The duration of the
flight was 25 hours
and 5 minutes. The balloon was piloted by Lt. L.A. Kloor,with passengers
Lt. S.A. Farrell and Lt.
W. Hinton.
Dec 30, 1920
Seaplane A3487 (type H16) arrives from Hampton Roads.
Dec 1920 - Jan 1921
A winter top for the airship C-10 was tested and found to be a very
satisfactory
improvement.
Dec 1920
Comparative tests were conducted on F-5-L propeller designs #5111 and
#4987. The results of
these tests were in favor of design #4987.
Dec 15, 1920
NAVAL BALLOONISTS REPORTED IN PERIL; Lieut. Hinton of NC-4 Fame and Two
Others Said to Have Hit Mountain Side. LEFT ROCKAWAY ON MONDAY Story of
Crash Unconfirmed-- Air Station Without Advices From Aeronauts. Word
reached the Naval Air Station at Rockaway Point last night that a navy
balloon which started for Canada on Monday with three passengers had
been sighted over Wells, N.Y., at 8:30 Monday night and was reported to
have crashed into the side of Fork Mountain.
(NY Times)
Jan 3, 1921
LOST BALLOON SAFE NEAR HUDSON BAY; ALL THE MEN ALIVE; Naval Aircraft
A-5598 Landed on Dec. 14 at a Far Northern Trading Post. WORD COMES TO
ROCKAWAY The Three Aeronauts Down Twenty Miles Northeast of Moose
Factory, Ontario. LEFT ROCKAWAY DEC. 13 In the Air Less Than Two Days--
Wives Overjoyed--Had Not Lost Hope of Safe Return. The missing navy
balloon A-5598 landed 20 miles northeast of Moose Factory, Ontario, Dec.
14, and the crew of three men are safe at a Hudson Bay trading post,
according to a telegram received at the Naval Air Station at Rockaway
last night. (NY Times)
Feb 14, 1921
F-5-L seaplanes 3606, 3596, MF 4417, N-9 2565, 2627, and HS2 1316 made
flights to lower
New York Bay to escort Admiral Bayly, RN, on board the S.S. Toloa. The
dirigible C-10 also
made a flight of 2 hours and 45 minutes in connection with this escort
duty.
Feb 27, 1921
TWO FLIERS KILLED IN ROCKAWAY CRASH; Seaplane Runs Into Air Pocket 800
Feet Up and Falls to Concrete Roadway. COMES DOWN IN TAIL SPIN Lieut.
Harold T. Stevens and Machinist Eugene Lindsay Die in Practice Flight.
Two navy fliers were killed yesterday when their seaplane ran into an
air pocket over the Rockaway Air Station and crashed to a concrete
roadway near the hangars. They were Lieutenant Harold T. Stevens and
Eugene Lindsay, a chief machinist's mate, who was serving as mechanician
on the practice flight. (NY Times)
Apr 25, 1921
N-9 seaplane 2627 fell into a tail spin at an altitude of 200 feet,
crashing into Jamaica Bay, and
slightly injuring both occupants.
Apr 30, 1921
At 11:30 a.m., F-5-L 3596 left for Annapolis, Maryland, arriving there
at 4:30 p.m.
Apr 1921
The complement of the station was reduced to 278 men in accordance with
Alnav 43 which allowed discharges of men three months prior to expiration
of
enlistment.
May 8, 1921
F-5-L seaplanes 3795 and 4012 left for Hampton Roads with four officers
to participate in the
bomong exercises against ex-German vessels.
May 24, 1921
F-5-L seaplane 3606 was used for spotting the 12-inch mortar practice at
Fort Tilden. Very good
spots were obtained and forwarded immediately to the batteries by radio
from the plane. In
some cases the spots were received by radio at this station and relayed
to batteries and towing
ship by radio telephone.
Jun 1921
Tests were conducted on the "CT" torpedo plane constructed for the Navy
by the Curtiss
Corporation. Preliminary tests were unsatisfactory and modifications are
being made in the
plane. Tests were also begun on geared Liberty motors. So far the gears
themselves have
proved satisfactory. However, the installation vibrates excessively and
trouble has been
experienced with propeller bolts breaking.
Jun 6, 1921
F-5-L seaplane 3606 and N-9 2565 participated in the celebration at the
foot of Flatbush Avenue,
attending the commencement of dredging in Jamaica Bay.
Jun 11, 1921
MF seaplane 4415 and N-9 2656 left this station to attend ceremonies at
the opening of the
aviation field at Hartford, Conn.
Jul 1, 1921
The complement of the station was further reduced to 259 men.
Aug 8, 1921
BLIMP ON RAMPAGE CHASED BY AIRPLANE; Catapults Its Crew Into Barren
Island Marsh and Sails Away Unpiloted. LANDS ON SCARSDALE FARM Just
Misses Church as It Descends, Intact, After Drifting 3 Hours 5,000 Feet
Aloft. The H-1, the Navy Air Service smallest blimp, went on a rampage
yesterday afternoon from the air station at Rockaway Park, L.I.,
catapulted the pilot and crew of two into a Barren Island swamp when
they attempted to bring it to earth, and, after drifting at a, height of
5,000 feet for more than three hours, ended an unpiloted tourney of
fifty miles by landing gracefully on a farm near Scarsdale, N.Y (NY
Times)
Aug 1921
BIGGEST NAVY BLIMP BURNS WITH 3 MORE; One Man Narrowly Misses Death When
Dirigible Takes Fire in Rockaway Hangar. DUE TO SAIL IN 20 MINUTES
Sparks From Workman's Hammer Believed to Have Ignited Escaping Gasoline.
Twenty minutes before she was to have started for the hangar built at
Lakehurst, N.J., for the ZR-2, the naval balloon D-6, the largest and
newest non-rigid dirigible possessed by the navy, burned, with her
hangar and three other balloons, at the Rockaway Point Naval Air Station
yesterday morning.(NY Times)
Aug 22, 1921
The transfer of the NAS Rockaway property back to the City
of NY to construct Jacob Reis (sic) Park is discussed.
1921
Most air operations cease at NAS Rockaway.
1922?
The dirigible hangar burns to the ground.
Jan 4, 1922
KEEP JACOB RIIS PARK INVIOLATE. A decision by the Sinking Fund
Commission upon the Navy Department's application that a large part of
the Jacob Riis Park at Rockaway be ceded to it for a permanent
aeronautical station has been hanging fire for a long time. The
commission would make a good beginning of the ...
(NY Times)
Feb 12, 1922
Only 12 men are on duty at NAS Rockaway.
Aug 20, 1923
First Trial for Breaking City Flying Law Begins Today; Two Army Aviators
Accused. The first trial under the city ordinance prohibiting aviators
from flying less than 2,000 feet above the ground will take place in Far
Rockaway today when Lieutenant Mikko Leikarl of 1,021 Thirty-ninth
Street, Brooklyn, and Second Lieutenant Charles W. Murray of Far
Rockaway are arraigned in the Far Rockaway Police Court. (NY Times)
Aug 20, 1923
2 SAVED AS PLANE FALLS INTO SEA; Fishermen Rescue Occupants When
Aircraft Is Forced Down Off Coney Island. Robert Dewey, proprietor of an
air transportation line between Hampton Roads, Va., and Miami, Fla.,
and his pilot, Duke Schiller, narrowly escaped drowning yesterday
afternoon when a seaplane which they were taking for repairs to the
Naval Air Station at Rockaway Point was forced down into a choppy sea
five miles off Coney Island. (NY Times)
Sept 3, 1923
SEAPLANE CRASHES INTO MOTOR LAUNCH; Forced to Descend, It Hits Bow of
Vessel in Jamaica Bay -- Five on Board Rescued. Hundreds bathing at
Rockaway and Broad Channel yesterday afternoon saw a seaplane which had
been circling Jamaica Bay make an unexpected landing, apparently right
on top of a twenty-foot cabin launch. As many as could pushed out into
the bay in boats expecting to find the person in the launch killed or
badly injured. (NY Times)
July 26, 1924
ADMIRAL CONDEMNS BEACH AIR STUNTS; Calls Aviator's Rockaway Performance
Foolhardy and Hazardous. Rear Admiral Charles P. Plunkett, in command
of the Third Naval District, embracing New York and its environs, agreed
yesterday with Acting Mayor William T. Collins that the performance of
an aviator who did stunts last Sunday at a low altitude and imperiled
and frightened thousands of persons on the sands at Rockaway Beach was a
foolhardy and dangerous undertaking...(NY Times)
Aug 2, 1924
NAVY AIR PILOT FINED; FLEW LOW OVER BEACH; Says Winds Forced Him to
Circle Before He Could Land -- Will Fight New Ordinance. Herbert Burr
Griggs, civilian air pilot for the navy, stationed at Anacostia Flying
Field, Washington, D.C., was fined $25 in the Magistrate's Court at Far
Rockaway yesterday on a charge of violating the city ordinance
prohibiting aviators flying low over a city beach...(NY Times)
Oct 1, 1925
The US Army 62nd Coast Artillery used the NAS Rockaway for
anti-aircraft training with the permission of the Navy.
April 1927
Two Officers, 9 Enlisted Men, and 5 Civilians (Policemen) on
duty. One Officer lived at the station and one watchman was on duty at
night.
1927
Records from Fort Tilden refer to the "Naval Reservation
adjacent to the post". The condition of the buildings there are
desribed as "very bad".
Nov 9, 1927
New Navy Plane to Seek Four World Records; Tests Begin Today at Rockaway
Air Station. An attempt to break four world's records will be begun
with a new Vought Corsair naval plane at the Rockaway Air Station today.
The plane is the first of 130 being produced by the Chance Vought
Corporation for the navy, and is the counterpart of the experimental
plane which made the former world's records several months ago...(NY
Times)
1928
New York Naval Militia Squadrons VN-3RD3 and VN-4RD3 utilize NAS
Rockaway
June 29, 1928
DIES IN PLANE CRASH AT ROCKAWAY POINT; Boy Passenger, 17, Killed, Pilot
Badly Hurt as Craft Plunges 200 Feet. VICTIM ASKED TO BE TAKEN Injured
Flier Says the Controls Seemed to Fail--Another Fatality in Mishap Near
Summit, N.J. A bi-plane nose-diving from 200 feet crashed at the
Rockaway Naval Air Station land field yesterday afternoon, killing its
passenger and injuring its pilot seriously. It was a Travel-Air, being
taken from Hadley Field, N.J., to Curtiss Field, L.I., for its
purchaser... (NY Times)
May 3, 1929
NAVAL AIR STATION THREATENS TO MOVE; Likely to Be Transferred From
Rockaway to Philadelphia if City Fails to Give $250,000. REPAIRS
URGENTLY NEEDED But Many Want Municipal Land Occupied by Base Restored
to Park System. Philadelphia Site Approved. The Naval Reserve Air
Station at Rockaway Point is likely to move to Philadelphia unless a
pending appropriation of $250,000 for reconditioning the station is
approved by the Sinking Fund Commission before June 1, according to
Lieutenant Cyril K. Wildman, executive officer of the station. (NY
Times)
May 23, 1929
NAVAL AIR STATION TO QUIT ROCKAWAY; Will Be Moved to Philadelphia
Because City Failed to Grant $250,000. SEVEN PLANES NOW THERE Two
Squadrons of State Naval Militia Will Remain at Plant in Jacob Riis
Park. Since the city appropriation of $250,000 to recondition the Naval
Air Station at Rockaway Point; crippled by the April storms, has not
been forthcoming, Rear Admiral David W. Taylor, vice chairman of the
United States Advisory Committee...(NY Times)
Sept 9, 1929
HIT-AND-RUN FLIER KILLS MAN IN A BOAT IN JAMAICA BAY FOG; Second
Fisherman Injured as Plane Skimming Over Water Cuts Launch in Two. MILL
BASIN PILOT HELD He Is Questioned by Police, Who Find Him Fixing Damaged
Pontoon. TELLS THEM HE HIT LOG The Low-Hanging Mist Prevented Witnesses
of Crash From Getting Description of Aviator. Homicide Charge Planned.
Witnesses Describe Crash. The hit-and-run aviator became a reality
yesterday, when a seaplane scudding across Jamaica Bay virtually cut a
motor boat in two, killed one occupant and injured the second, and then
zoomed off the water into the air and disappeared.
...(NY Times)
December 9, 1929
NAVAL FLIERS AWAIT SELECTION OF STATION; Several Cities Offer Airports
to Reservists Who Used Rockaway Point Field. Members of the two naval
reserve squadrons to which the city has refused further use of Jacob
Riis Park at Rockaway Point as a naval air station are awaiting the
outcome of recommendations sent to the chief of the Bureau of
Aeronautics in Washington. (NY Times)
Apr 1930
The RNAS property is transferred to the City of New
York.
1930
42 of 51 structures remaining at Rockaway NAS were
demolished.
Oct 12, 1930
TO WRECK AIR BASE AT ROCKAWAY BEACH; Navy Department Asks Bids for the
Demolition of the War. Time Plane Station. SITE WILL BECOME A PARK
Fifty-one Buildings Will Be Removed and Property Will Be Restored to
City. Rockaway Hails Park Plan. Orders for the demolition of the Naval
Reserve Aviation Base at Rockaway Beach, N.Y., which will be converted
into a park, have been issued by the Navy Department, and bids... (NY
Times)
December 1930
Demolition of buildings at RNAS continues.
April 1931
The Navy extended the lease of a hangar to the City of New
York. This hangar was probably used for storage of construction
equipment and
materials used at the Jacob Riis Park construction site. What's left today?
Jacob Riis Park was later completed on the site of the Rockaway NAS
leaving no trace of airbase remaining today. The National Park Service
has placed an interpretive display on the mall area of Jacob Riis Park
and a plaque commemorating the first trans-Atlantic flight made by NAS
Rockaway's NC Flying Boats in 1919.
Buildings at NAS Rockaway
Bldg# Description
1 Old Adminstrative Bldg (later, Barracks 1)
2 Barracks
3 Pigeon House (used to courier messages before radio)
4 Hospital
4B Dispensary Addition
7 Barracks
8 Barracks
9 Barracks
10 Boiler House
11 Motor Test Stand (to test run repaired engines)
13 Machine Shop
14 Storehouse
17 Storehouses (2)
19 Motor and Wing Stores (aircraft spare parts)
20 Motor and Wing Stores (aircraft spare parts)
21 Magazine Bldg
23 Gas Holder (hydrogen tank for dirigibles)
27 Dirigible Storehouse and Fabric Shop
28 Compression Bldg
29 Cylinder Storehouse
42 Instrument and Tool House
46 Carpenters Shop
52 Hydrogen Generator Bldg
56 Pigeon Breeding House
64 Lumber Storage Bldg
68 Sump Pump House
79 Garbage Storage
Admin Bldg
Mess Hall for 600 men
Bakery
Barracks for 1150 men
Quarters for 70 Bachelor Officers
Quarters for Warrant Officers
Radio Bldg
Dock
Guards Barracks
Laboratory
Blacksmith Shop
Aircraft Hangars at NAS Rockaway
Hangar 1 170'-4" x 114'-8" x 35'(destroyed by fire on 1/31/19)
Hangar C (Seaplane Hgr #2)
Hangar D 107'-11" x 112'-7" x 35'(#2)
Hangar E 215'-10" x 106'-6" x 24'Double Hangar(#3)
Hangar F (NC Hgr #2)
Dirigible Hangar 114' x 250' x 65' (burned to the ground in 1922)
