1938 - 2013
The Billman's
Chuck heard from some of his Air Force flying buddies that there was a flying opportunity at AAB. The Billman''s (Chuck, Pat, Gary and Gregg) arrived in STX about 1976. The Billman's certainly made an impact on everyone. Chuck was a great pilot and friend to all. Pat's outgoing personality made her a pleasure as she too took on a role at AAB. Even though Gary and Greg were in their high school years they took an interest in all aspects of the seaplane operations. It didn't take long before Gary left for college. Greg, still in high school, took on some part time duties at AAB even flying as bowman on the Sandringham "Southern Cross". The Billman's aviation ties date back to the Wright Brothers and continue to this day with another generation of aviators.
As time has passed, so have friends... Chuck, Pat and Gary are truly missed.
See more about the Billman's below.
1938 - 2015
Pat was a very special lady. She always was there to help... not only with the work but with the fun. You never had to wonder what she was thinking... she would always let you know and we loved her for that. I had the pleasure of working with her at Antilles Air Boats as well as Coral Air. Chuck and Pat also lived for awhile at Estate North Star along me and other aviator friends. Pat endured many losses in her life but always looked at the new joys in her life. Even though Chuck and Pat were many miles away (Florida / Hawaii) we found time to visit each other over the years.
We will always remember Pat.
Tom Anusewicz
Pat and Tom Anusewicz at Estate North Star
Pat Billman and Charlie Freehling
Colonel Gregg Billman
Gregg and the very proud parents
Cadet Captain Brooke (Billman) Mountcastle, Gregg and Pat Billman (the very proud father and grandmother
John Wayne, Pat, Gregg and Mrs. Blair
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Jamie & Tom Anusewicz with Chuck, Pat and Greg Billman at Sam Choy's - Honolulu (2005?)
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.
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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
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