The articles, photos and stories posted below are drafts and are not fully published and are not available for public viewing until finalized and approved.
Draft Posts
December draft posts
Merry Christmas
Miracle on 34th Street
with
Charlie & Maureen
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.
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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
January 2026 draft posts
Happy New Year!
2026
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.
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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
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Looking back to a congressional document from 1974
Claude "Bonny" Austin
I'm a paragraph. Click here to add your own text and edit me. It's easy.
Tri-Air Corp.
Alexander Hamilton Airport
Christiansted, St. Croix
I'm a paragraph. Click here to add your own text and edit me. It's easy.
I'm a paragraph. Click here to add your own text and edit me. It's easy.
Left to right / standing; Claude Austin, Lou Ellen, Jerry Boyce, Art Machel
front, Jasper Henry, ______, and ______.​​​​
photos credit Charlie Freehling
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The Amphibians
Wings of
Hawks
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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
