In the Spring of 1937 the Westchester Private Fliers were formed by a group of County residents for
the purpose of creating and maintaining an interest in Aviation in Westchester County, NY. By June
1939 twenty of its members had learned to fly and obtained their Pilot Licenses. The group was
organized by---George F. Helwig, a North Tarrytown Police Officer, was President; Dr. L.F. Donaldson,
of North Tarrytown, was Vice President; Ross C. Weaver, a Policeman in the Town of Greenburg, was
Treasurer, and Henry Mandell, a Druggist from Mount Vernon, was Secretary. The Club started with one
single engine land plane a J3 Cub based at Valhalla, and Armonk, NY. By the early Spring of 1939 with
fifty members the Club decided to form a Seaplane Base at Dobbs Ferry, NY on the shore of the Hudson River. With a plot of land leased from New York Central Railroad at Station Plaza and North of
the Besson Grainery Docks a Hanger and Float with ramp & dolly were constructed. The landplane was replaced with a new Taylor Craft equipped with floats. All of the construction was completed with
volunteer labor of the Club members. The float was constructed on empty Beer Barrels obtained by
Gus (Sonny) Rabe from His employer the Jacob Ruppert Breweries of New York City.
HOME | NEXT