UNIT THREE

Aerial Coast Patrol

Knapp Estate, Mastic, LI

1917-19??

Very little official Navy info can be gathered about the history of the 3rd Unit or how long the base existed. One Navy WWI aero historian told me he thought that the Third Unit never fully completed their flight training and were absorbed into Unit #2 in Bayshore. Unit 2 was a much larger base in both equipment & personel. I do know from the dates of what I have found, that Unit 3 was active almost immeadiatly in the Narrow Bay area and all points east & west from the month of May through the remainder of 1917. I also know the banks of their base made for great flounder fishing in the 1950's.

 

Flying Boat Somewhere On Long Island 1917

 

Most of the people who toured the estate in this piece were semi regular newsmakers

Allen Hawley

Allen Hawley was a charter member of The Aero Club Of America and instrumental in getting the civilian and military factions together.

He was among the group that toured then 6 month old Knapp Estate on Saturday April 14th , 1917. I wonder if the mansion was finished yet?

 

E. K. Jaquith

Edward Kenneth Jacquith was the son of a wealthy Chicago Banker and had been flying for about 4 years when tapped to become the flight instructor for Unit 3.

He seems to have been quite a character and his duck hunting exploits may of been what caught J. P.s attention

and three years later

 

It's too bad they did not name E.K.'s shadowy companion

 

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As it was stated in the first April articles about locating the base at Knapp's estate, the radio station and the hangers were put up at once

and the base was operating in a few weeks with three planes. Though most of the news items seemed to focus on the social aspects rather than military.

 

and the reason for the flight was.......

Not Exactly Of Strategic Importance

(Though I'm Sure They Would Of Reported Any Submarines If They Spotted Them)

 

The wedding of J.W. Mott, E. K's pal. Jaquith had a flying school, performed exhibition stunts and gave rides at Mott's Atlantic City Hotel

and the report was filed at the Wireless Station on Knapp's Estate. Probably on the same equipment we found in the barn around 1953.

 

 

 

IN AUGUST OF 1917 THE SOUTHAMPTON PRESS RAN A FEW REPORTS OF THE ACTIVITIES OF THE THIRD ALSO

Most likely filed by Archies Mom.

 

 

A Lot Of Info In This One

The Devon Yacht Club is on the north east shore of Easthampton actually in Amagansett. The name L W Bonney begins to be associated with the Third Unit. Regular readers of the website should know that name is forever intertwined with Knapp, Flying, and Dogs. From the few impressions I do have of Dodi Knapp and his exploits, I had figured he would not be content to just be a spectator in all this. Or even just a passenger, this next one reinforced my hunches

"COME FLY WITH ME"

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But it wasn't all just fraternity flying...there were moments of high anxiety

Just a week or so later

BAM!

A Flying Boat into Quinby's Bridge at Smith's Point

 

And less than two weeks later

 

 

Bonney had already been flying and teaching flying for 7 years. He was no stranger to crashing and walking away.

AND SPEAKING OF

REALLY FLYING

 

Meet

"GYRO"