A Hollywood connection... Maureen and J-38 / NC2973 in 1950
J-38 left the Grumman factory in 1948, when Thomas S. Lee purchased the new G-73 Mallard with the registration NC2973.
Many of the Mallard owners kept their aircraft for years, but J-38 saw many operators over the years.
This amphibian had 3 different owners in 1950.
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Tommy Lee took J-38 from Grumman in 1946. Billy Goetz acquired it in March 1950 and sold it to John Ruan in October of the same year.
J-38 arrived at Antilles Air Boats as N7338 in 1974
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Tommy Lee was head of Thomas S. Lee Enterprises, consisting of the
Don Lee Broadcast System, established by his father, an automobile distributing agency which also bore his father's name, and the TV station KTLS and later KNXT in Hollywood. Tommy was a pioneer of TV in Southern California, building the first transmitter in LA in 1931. He later built the station on the top of Mt. lee looking down on Hollywood on one side and the Burbank Airport on the other. In addition to his radio and TV interest, Lee sponsored racing cars in Indianapolis and piloted his own aircraft. Lee was one of the richest single man
and was well connected to Hollywood and some its best known actress.
As a result of a vertebra injury sustained in an automobile accident, Lee was declared mentally incompetent in a medical hearing in August 1948. Less than two years later he jumped from the 12th floor of the Pellissier Building on Wilshire Boulevard.
Lee was 42 years old when he ended his life on January 13, 1950
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In April 1949, Universal announced the film Bagdad would star Yvonne de Carlo . De Carlo fell ill and Goetz borrowed Maureen O'Hara from 20th Century Fox. This was O'Hara's first film at Universal but not with Goetz.
Charles Blair flew for American Overseas Airlines and visited Maureen at some of her film making locations. He transitioned to Pan Am in 1950.
William B. Goetz was an American film producer and studio executive. Goetz was one of the founders of 20th Century Fox Pictures, and later served as vice president of 20th Century Fox after the studio's merger with the Fox Film Company. At Universal-International he served as head of production from 1946 to 1953.
In 1932, Goetz received the financial support necessary from his new father-in-law, Louie B. Mayer, to become a minor partner with Joseph Schenck, the former president of
United Artist and Darryl F. Zanuck from Warner Brothers to form 20th Century Fox. Zanuck was named president and Goetz served as
vice-president.. ​
In 1942, Goetz took charge of the studio temporarily when Zanuck, a veteran of WWI, joined the United States military effort in WWII. Goetz liked the top role in the company , and after Zanuck returned, relationships became strained.
In 1943, Goetz resigned to form his own independent company International Pictures . An additional merger in 1946 formed Universal-International studio which Goetz was president..​
Grumman Mallard J-38 was obtained in March 1950 and sold in October of the same year.
Why only six month?
3 months after purchasing the aircraft, Pacific Airmotive Corp. in Burbank installed a new radio system ( see 337 doc above).
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I still have questions that I do not have answers for (yet), but I find it interesting that Charlie Blair meets Maureen O'Hara in the forty's. They both travel extensively in different circles but meet periodically and airplanes traveled in there own circles, but arrived in the Virgin Islands many years later. Charlie and Maureen were married in 1968, Goose N8229 (see below) arrived in 1970 and the Mallard J-8 joined AAB in 1974.
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Maureen O'Hara had an incredible career in Hollywood. making over 50 films. Keeping busy was an understatement. From 1949 through 1952, she made 12 movies.
J-8's third owner in 1950
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N2873 on a fishing trip in Iowa 1951
John Ruan and Roy Fruehauf were business associates as well as long time friends. They also had something else in common. They both were Grumman Mallards owners and both of their aircraft flew at Antilles Air Boats.
John Ruan. driven by determination during the Depression, expanded a one-truck business into Ruan Transportation Management Systems, a leading company in trucking, leasing, and logistics. This success made him one of Iowa's wealthiest and most influential figures, with interests in insurance, banking, financial services, international trade, and real estate.
That first truck was purchased in 1932, with money gained from the sale of his family's car. Within months, he'd turned that one truck into three, and just two years later, at the age of 19, he was running a fleet of a dozen trucks throughout the Midwest.
John's story is detailed in William B. Fredricks' book
"IN FOR THE LONG HAUL - The Life of John Ruan".
A great read!
"In the early 50's, guest were taken to Clear Lake cottage or flown on company's airplane to a remote lake in Canada for fishing and camping'.
John Ruan was close friend and business associate to Roy Fruehauf. Roy had a lodge in Ontario, Canada and I would believe that Grumman
J-8 made a visit during the year he owned N2973. A few years later Roy purchased Mallard J-44 and operated it until it was transferred to Fred Frakes, who took it to to Alaska.
​
A Hollywood / Cuban connection...Maureen and a Goose
that later flew at AAB
The Goose actually left town before Maureen O'Hara arrived in Havana in 1959. In fact it was 5 years before but I find it interesting that as people and airplanes move about the stories connect somehow.
photo from Tom Anusewicz Collection / Alamy License
N8229 flew at AAB from 1970 to 1981
Read more about #1187
Back in 1940's Cuba was considered an ally to the United States and arrangement was made for 2 Grumman Gooses (JRF-5) to be delivered to Cuba in 1942 (#1186 & #1187) . The aircraft were based at Mariel Naval Base and utilized for patrol, scout, and observation. #1186 did not survive its military duty and #1187 was used by President Fulgencio Batista from 1952 to 1954.
​
photo credit Tom Anusewicz
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photo credit Harris & Ewing photograph via Library of Congress
President Fulgencio Batista
​Returned to USA on Import Certificate IMP-663 and registered N2729A. Transferred from New Jersey to Toronto and allotted
CF-IFN registration in 1955. It saw service with Advocate Mines Ltd. 1956 to 1958
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Aeropuerto de Rancho Boyeros - Havana
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Cuban Naval Aviation to
Universal Trading Corp - Panama
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Universal Trading Corp - Panama to Trade-Ayers Inc. - New Jersey
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N8229 #1187
Cuban Navy #57
​ M.J. Boylen Engineering operated CF-IFN
from 1958 to 1969.
M.J. Boylen Engineering CF-IFN in Toronto - June 1966
Photo credit Mike Ody Collection via George Trussell
N8229 arrives in the Virgin Islands 1970
photo credit Frank Strnad from Don Dawson Collection
N8229 is prepared for departure with new paint in 1981
​ Charles F. Blair, Jr. negotiated with the Boylen estate after M.J. Boylen passed in 1970. The purchase was made by Caribbean Flying Boats (Charlie F. Blair) and leased back to Antilles Air Boats.