Billy Phipps my Cousin
and my Fathers Nephew
grew up around Seaplanes
and the Dobbs Ferry Base.
Gus Rabe above in front of
hanger C. 1940
Kay Holmes with student, on Hudson
River; C. 1940
During the Spring and Summer of 1940 there was much flying activity and the local newspapers
covered it all, the weekend crowds enjoyed coming down to the docks and watching the yellow
Cubs taking off and landing; Afterall it was still the age of the Flying Boats and record breaking
flights. Captain Ed Musick of Pan American only five years before Piloted a giant Martin M- 130
Flying Boat the China Clipper from San Francisco to Manila in 59 hrs & 48 min. and again two
years later extending the flight to Hong Kong with the S-42 Flying Boat the Hong Kong Clipper.
Yes Americans were enjoying a love affair with Seaplanes and flying in general. The Civil Aviation
Agency (CAA) predecessor of todays FAA actively promoted a chain of Amphibian and Seaplane
Bases from Canada to New York City. Operations at the Dobbs Ferry Base were growing by the
year and had expanded to operate three Floatplanes by the Summer of 1940.
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