J-2
.png)
Through the efforts of those aviation historians of the past, we know the various owners and the years they operated J-2.
This page will go a little further into the individuals that recognized the Grumman Mallard as their aircraft of choice.
The Mallard in Charlotte Amalie, St. Thomas
N653SS / J-53 arrived at VISS in April 1985
.jpg)
Australia's connection with Antilles Air Boats has always been close. It may have started with airplanes, but its real connection was the people. Recently Gregg and Dania Billman (Florida) embarked on new adventure with a cruise around the Pacific on the Coral Princess. A recent stop was Australia. When they pulled into Sydney, Gregg wanted to visit Rose Bay, the location of the iconic flying boats of days gone by. ​
​
.png)
The Aussie Connection
​
In 1974, Noel Holle joined AAB as an aircraft engineer specializing in the Shorts Sandringham, accompanied by his wife Margaret, (who also possessed expertise with the iconic flying boats) and their young sons Matthew ,Steven and Daniel. Once the Shorts flying boats departed from the Caribbean the Holle family returned to Australia by 1980.
​
March 2026, upon reaching Sydney, Gregg reached out to Matthew and Margaret Holle. Although a meeting was not possible during this port-of-call, plans were made to meet Steven Holle in Fremantle / Perth when the Coral Princess arrived several days later. On March 11th, Gregg and Steve had the opportunity to spend a little time and catch up on the many years since they were in St. Croix at Antilles Air Boats. Daniel Holle currently resides in New York working with his wife Lisa in corporate hospitality in the Hamptons and in Florida..
​
Read more about the Holle and Billman families, as well as the enduring relationships originating from the era of seaplanes, on this page and the links provided.
​
Steven resides in the greater Perth area. He is a Public and Corporate Affairs Specialist with a keen interest and experience in tourism, transport, information and leisure industries throughout Australia.​​
He's presently focused on reform in the maritime transport sector within Western Australia with a keen focus on coastal development and community access to boating facilities. In his spare time, he volunteers with the local marine rescue service.
Matthew resides in the greater Sydney area and has over 20 years of experience as a manager of modern and heritage environment including maintenance of building services at the Museum of Sydney, the Mint, Hyde Park Barracks, St, Mary's Cathedral, and the Anzac Memorial. Matt also curated 2 major exhibitions at the Museum of Sydney: Flying Boats - Australia's Golden Age of Aviation and the Wild Ones - Sydney Stadium 1908 - 1970. ​​
Matthew
Steven
Gregg and Dania Billman with Steven Holle in Fremantle / Perth
Rose Bay today
Perth
Sydney
​​​As the years passed, so have many of the aviators that worked at Antilles Air Boats. Many of the offspring of those aviator's have continued in their father's footsteps and in some way to keep the history alive. Gregg's father, ​
Matthew Holle -
Property Manager
Charles "Chuck" Billman, an U.S. Air Force fighter pilot, joined AAB in the mid 1970's. While in high school in St. Croix, U.S. Virgin Islands, Gregg worked part-time on the Shorts Sandringham "Southern Cross". After his schooling, Gregg went on to become a fighter pilot and had a long career with the U.S. Air Force.​
Margaret Holle
.png)
About this site...
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.
personal opinion
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.
​
April 2026
updates
.png)
J-1
K.C. Irving was a entrepreneurial industrialist that built a business empire in the Atlantic Provinces of Canada. For over 60 years K.C. had many aircraft in the Irving fleet. Read more...
The first Grumman Mallard arrives in 1946 and flies as a demonstrator until K.C. Irving purchases the amphibian in 1949
N40R
STT
photo from the Bill Bailey Collection
Claude "Bonny" Austin
Alexander Hamilton Airport, Christiansted, St. Croix
Charlie Freehling and Claude Austin along with John Alvy, Jim Schroder and Jack Wood began Tri Air Corp. back in 1970.
Charlie started with Antilles Air Boats in the late 60's but left to open the new aircraft repair station.
Tri Air Corp.
Tri Air Corp's Bonny Austin works on the DC-3 (C-47) Pratt & Whitney R1830 - Twin Wasp engine. See more about this DC-3 below.
Tri Air Corp was immediately recognized as group of experienced professionals that could handle any aircraft maintenance and repair requirement to maintain the airworthiness of the old birds that found their way to this hangar in St. Croix. Antilles Air Boats recognized their abilities and sent some of their aircraft to Tri Air Corp. They were contracted to assist with the ferry of the AAB PBY N2763A back to STX and make appropriate repairs to begin schedule service. Read more about some of the aircraft that are in the images of Tri Air Corp.
Left to right / standing; Claude Austin, Lou Ellen, Jerry Boyce, Art Machel
front, Jasper Henry, ______, and ______.​​​​
.png)
STX photos credit Charlie Freehling
Airlantic Transport - San Juan, Puerto Rico (1970 -1974)
Curtiss C-46F s/n 22533
​
Caribbean Island Airways - N349V
A long history of flying freight for many different operators until it was destroyed by Hurricane Andrew in Florida in 1992.
photo credit Jay Sherlock
photo credit Propfreak Collection
photo credit Richard Werno
1971 - PBY N2763A arrives from Arizona and is being prepared for AAB schedule service​​​​
Volpar Turboliner conversion in CA
photo credit Geoff Goodall
photo credit Charlie Freehling
photo credit Dave Welch
.jpg)
.png)
photo credit Mick Bajcar
Some of the Islanders operating in the region were Vieques Air Link - N457JA, N588JA, N589JA, N861JA, Air Best de Sa Juan - N862JA, N866JA and San Juan Air - N852JA, N855JA. Dorado Wings also operation the BN-2A.​
Another aircraft in the photo above is a Britten-Norman BN-2A Islander which looks like N868JA. There were many BN-2 Islanders between Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands. The photo here shows N858JA in St Thomas.
Some Caribbean Mishaps
The DC-3 in the top photo came to Tri Air Corp from Miami enroute to the French island of Guadeloupe after an inspection and various repairs in St. Croix.. J.P. Le Coannet purchased the aircraft from Frank Englert in Miami in 1970 and planned on tourist flights out of Guadeloupe. Read more...
photo credit Barry Friend
.jpg)
photo credit Dave Welch
.jpg)
photo credit Paul Seymour
photo credit J. Guillem Collection
.png)
photo credit Michael Bajcar
Like all the photos posted to the many pages of this website, whether they are of people or airplanes, they tell a story. I like to know more...where did they come from and where did they go in the years to follow. Everything has a beginning and an end. I like telling the stories, I like trying to connect the dots. So the above started with photos from Charlie Freehling and I just try to fill in the blanks. Sometime I give answers and sometime just more questions but I enjoy the journey. Charlie sent me a box of vintage slides (225) and this article completes the posting of those great images. Thank you to those that assisted.
DC-3 / C-47 N2111M USAF s/n 41-7820
Phil: "I was in the Virgin Islands once, I met a girl. We ate lobster, drank pina coladas. At sunset we made love like sea otter. That was a pretty good day. Why couldn't I get that day over and over again?"
Groundhog Day
February 2, 2026
Boris Sergievsky landed his Grumman Mallard amphibian (J-4 / N2940) (AAB's N83781 / VISS's N604SS) in London, August 10,1947 , after a 25-hour flight from New York.
He said he had no business in Europe and flew just for fun and to see what the plane could do. With him were his wife, a radio operator and Marina Svetlova, a ballerina at the Metropolitan.
photo credit Acme News - NY Bureau 3/11/47
photo from Tom Anusewicz Collection
Flies Atlantic "Just for Fun"
William F. Buckley Jr.
was a friend of Charles Blair Jr. and William's son Christopher shared a story about Charlies visit to his home back in the early 1970's. Christopher was an accomplished author and the story came from his book "Losing Mom and Pup".
Read the page below.
Original photo from Tom Anusewicz Collection
I took Fritz Henle's iconic photo of Charles F. Blair with his first AAB Goose and gave it a little life
with the help of AI.
I agree there are many inaccuracies with the above but it was fun to generate.
​
Kinjockety
photo credit Ruben Green
photo credit Ruben Green
​ Gar Wood was the first operator of J-14 and he put many flight hours in his favorite amphibian. Above are 2 photos of NC2954 named "Kinjockety XI" at his Canadian island. Many of Wood's aircraft were named Kinjockety with its subsequent roman numeral identifier. The Kinjockety Hunting Club was also the name of his private island in McGregor Bay, Ontario .
Read more about Gar Wood and J-14
Update...
It is always a pleasure to receive input from visitors on previous postings. I recently obtained new info and photos on Grumman G-73 Mallard J-14
​ The bays and inlets of Lake Ontario were exceptional for amphibians to gain access to majestic Canada. A number of AAB Mallards visited before they flew the skies of the warmer Caribbean.
Gar Wood's
Many of the aircraft that operated at Antilles Air Boats had
a rich history before, during and after flying the Caribbean skies.
I am glad that many of those aircraft were recognized as worthy to preserve that history and place them in museums. There are various pages on the AAB website that tells
the story of these aircraft but the MUSEUM page will focus on specific displays.
This website and subsequent Facebook page is categorized as a History Museum. This designation is compatible with the premise of museum definition of displaying objects of historical importance for public education, enjoyment and research.​​
Click on Museums to see more about history preserved.
Charlotte Amalie, St Thomas
Veterans Drive Waterfront
photos by Charlie Freehling
Late 1960's
The connection between the east end of the island of Puerto Rico and St. Thomas was an important link for those AAB passengers that flew the Goose.
The photos by Charlie Freehling capture this unique experience.
.jpg)
_edited.jpg)
.png)
Looking back to a congressional document from 1974
San Juan Terminal
photo credit Charlie Freehling
A great photo of Antilles Air Boats operations in San Juan, Puerto Rico. Grumman Mallard G-73 N7356 is being loaded with cargo, baggage and the Captain is prepared to welcome his passengers. The AAB terminal in San Juan was located by Isla Grande Airport utilizing the old Navy Base hangars on the edge of the harbor. Another convenient downtown to downtown location.
photo credit Fritz Henle
Gooses and Geese
January 9, 1978, four Gooses return to the St. Croix seaplane terminal from the Governor Cyril King's memorial fly over.
See more photos of that flight at
proper goose grammer
photo credit Charlie Freehling
.jpg)
"Starfire"
A converted army aircraft rescue boat
1968 saw interesting arrivals at Antilles Air Boats. It was 1968, when the VS-44 Sikorsky was purchased from Dick Probert and relocated to St. Thomas from California, to join the fleet at AAB. That same year Charlie married Maureen and brought his new bride back to St. Croix.
It was 1968 when Maureen O'Hara Blair decided to returned to Hollywood to join Jackie Gleason to make "How Do I Love Thee". And it was 1968, when Charlie Blair purchased a 104 ft. converted WWII army aircraft rescue boat in Miami and brought it to the U.S.V.I.
A boat like this should have had more documented history but research has not turned up the stories I was hoping for. Without having its Army P# it has been difficult to get specific details.
Maybe this posting will allow for more info.
_1460320254.jpg)
Many of the 104' air-sea-rescue boats were built at Dooley's Basin & Dry Dock Company in Ft. Lauderdale, Florida. Dooley's was first established in 1937 for the war effort and closed after the war, after building 97 air-sea-rescue boats (various lengths). Not sure that Charlie Blair's boat came from this builder but it is a good possibility.
​
Charlie's son Christopher remembers when his father purchased the boat in Miami in 1968.
Wings
In 1977, Paul McCartney's Wings came to the USVI to rejuvenate and record. They utilized 4 boats to complete the flotilla to eat, sleep, and record in Waterlemon Bay, St. John.
Water
Fair Carol, Samala,
El Torro and the Wanderlust was home and a very short commute to work with a view that could not be duplicated at any other sound studio.
​
Read more about Wings in the Virgin Islands.
.png)
Fair Carol
Samala was originally a Ham-Class in-shore minesweeper named HMS Ockham, built in 1959.
It was sold in 1967 and converted to a civilian configuration. In 1976, it left Gibraltar for Antigua. By 1977 it founds it way to the U.S. Virgin Islands.
.png)
Chris was already involved with the VS-44 Sikorsky N41881 ferry flight from Long Beach, California to the U.S. Virgin Islands. Chris, while still in high school, flew to Texas to arrange for fuel at Eagle Mountain Lake and joined the crew for its final leg to St. Thomas. At the same time "Starfire" left Miami for the journey south. It ran into issues with taking on water through the exhaust ports low in the stern and almost sank. It operated in the VI for several years.
More converted WWII boats of interest
John Wayne, Peggy Wayne and Melinda Wayne aboard the Wild Goose in 1963.
Photo from John Wayne Enterprises
Wild Goose
The Wild Goose is the famous 136-foot yacht that belonged to the legendary actor John Wayne. It was originally a WWII U.S. Navy minesweeper (USS YMS-328) built in 1942 and served in the Aleutian Islands. Today the Wild Goose is a historic California landmark offering cruises in Newport Bay.
John Wayne's "Wild Goose" never made it to the Caribbean but John did. He visited the Blair's on several occasions and it is most likely that he and Charlie discussed their WWII boats.
There is no doubt that many converted WWII boats operated on the waters around the world. When researching Charlie Bair's boat, I came across others and have included a couple here. It seems fitting that the AAB website should include connections like "Wild Goose" and "Wings". With John Wayne being a good friend of the Blair's and Wings recording in the USVI made it a little more interesting.
​
I will continue to find out more about Charlie's boat in the Antilles...the one without the air.
photo credit Russ Allison Loar
Maureen's Aviators
The wings of make-believe and reality
The Wings of
Hawks
Maureen O'Hara Blair had previous marriages but there were truly two men in her life. Charlie Blair and John Wayne.. Her best movies were with the Duke. You would think that Charlie would have been jealous of that relationship but actually it was Maureen that was jealous. Charlie and the Duke were close friends and spent time without Maureen. She actually was happy that they were all close friends. She couldn't ask for more.
Bluetail Whale
The
The Bluetail Whale (not an official name) arrived in the Virgin Islands in 1974 as "Southern Cross".
This aircraft along with its sister "Excalibur VIII" had a glorious history and more can be found on the Shorts Sandringham S.25 page.
"Southern Cross" spent a couple of summers in the UK/Ireland in charter service but the Virgin Islands service was limited.​​
As the years went by, the big birds had trouble spreading their wings. The economics kept them on the ground. Following Charlie Blair's death in 1978 it was clear that the Sandringham's would be put up for sale.
Christiansted, St. Croix Seaplane Ramp - September 1980
"Excalibur VIII" was purchased by Edward Hulton from the UK. He was well financed to prepare the aircraft for its journey across the Atlantic including a fresh paint job (white with blue stripe). "Southern Cross" was not well financed and a small group of interested individuals came together, lead by Capt. Ron Gillies, to get this aircraft across the North Atlantic before the winter of 1980.
The aircraft was painted with zinc chromate primer (green) and they got some blue paint on the tail before the money was running out. Thus the Bluetail Whale. The preparation was done in the San Juan hangar .
The money remaining was to be used to get the aircraft to Ireland. The photos above and below by Charlie Freehling were taken when the
Sandringham stopped in Christiansted, St. Croix for final prep before it departure for Boston. The trip didn't go as planned.
Read the personal log of Jim Flannagan, first officer / flight engineer, hired to assist with the crossing.
Flannagan's Log
photo credit Jim Flannagan
photo credit Tom Anusewicz
_edited.png)
Wake up and smell the coffee!
_edited.png)
Over the years, the AAB logo appeared on a number of items... click the cup.
Grumman Mallard N7338 in St. Thomas in November 1979 with Capt. Bill Mable
and Co-Capt. Marijane Howard in the cockpit.
New slide from the UK and now part of my collection.
.png)
.jpg)
.png)
1973
Frederiksted Pier, St. Croix
Charlie Freehling sent a photo of 2 Goose bodies sitting on the Frederiksted Pier in 1973. Why? Well after a little research, I believe that they are N4762C and N40R. Both served AAB well for several years before airworthy issues grounded
them and they waited for parts and a little tender loving care. The problem being an aircraft waiting for parts can loose more parts during the waiting, extending its day to fly once again. Earlier, these two aircraft left the St. Thomas seaplane ramp to a warehouse across the street. Over time, much of the AAB maintenance was being moved to St. Croix. So one day it was time to clear out the warehouse and send the part and pieces to St. Croix. N4762C and N40R were put on a barge to St Croix were
they sat on the Frederiksted Pier briefly before they went to a hangar at the Alexander Hamilton Airport. There was hope that they would fly the skies of the Caribbean once again. The first 2 Mallards arrived in 1974 and there was a possibility of Grumman Albatrosses (HU16 / G111) so the priority was not repairing these two Gooses at this time. By 1978, after Charlie Blair's accident, the Goose at AAB was being phased out. These two Gooses never flew again... in any sky.
____ & Trudy Clark
Dave Pankratz
Jim Murdock
photos by Charlie Freehling
photo of N1208 / Wein Consolidated from Tom Anusewicz Collection
photos by Charlie Freehling
N1208 / J-44 had a long history of service. From its early private use to airline operations with Wein, AAB and Chalk's, N1208 served many passengers for over 50 years.
A Wein connection
Christiansted Seaplane Ramp, St. Croix
More images of AAB...
photo by Charlie Freehling
photo by Charlie Freehling
photo by Charlie Freehling
photo by Charlie Freehling
2 new slides arrived from the UK of G-73 Mallard departing STT in 1980. During the later years of AAB, most flights were flown with the Mallards.
"About this site" is where periodic updates and revisions are posted. Every month, 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 & 2 are the early posts for the of the website. click to continue to view the many post and links.