DODI KNAPP'S AIR FORCE

aka

UNIT 3

AERIAL COAST PATROL

 

I've written about the Yale Aero Units One , Two and Three that patroled the coasts of Long Island from 1917-19 in the (Knapp Aero Files ) but info has always been very scarce about Unit 3 that was started in April 1917 on the shore of the Knapp Estate in Mastic (Beach) . Through the summer Unit 3 expanded from a handful of fliers to about 35 Naval Reserve airmen. Unit One was located in Huntington, and Unit 2 at Bayshore. Although I have found a few written articles, photos of the Unit 3 have been as scarce as photos of Joseph F. Knapp (Dodi)

Well thanks to the sharp eyes and inquiring mind of my pal Marty VanLith who found these in the Post Morrow Foundation in Brookhaven. (They are part of the Bartheau Photo Collection) I now have a few photos of Unit Three to share. These were taken at their Smith Point facility when they expanded from the Knapp Estate just diagonally across the bay.

 

"HANG TEN"

Two Curtis flying boats on the ramps. I wonder how many more are inside. That's the "Hedges Hotel" with the sign from the ill fated Tangier Devolpment of 1910-1914 still standing. Today this is the sight of Smith Point Park.

click pic it to enlarge

 

 

Dodi is that you?

Could be as he had his own Curtiss F-5 There are two people in it. It could also be E K Jaquith, L W Bonney, Harold Pumpelly ,Clinton Backus , Harold Howe or Tom Dixon.

A Real Water Taxi

click to enlarge

 

 

 

STORM DAMAGE?

The planes were gone after the war was over .The hanger came down perhaps from storm damage.. The Tangier Sign is still standing. The Hotel was a retreat for soldiers in the summer of 1919 . This is obviously Winter circa 1920's. Anyone know who the person in the racoon coat sitting on the ice boat might be? Ice would also take out the wooden Tangier Bridge

 

BEWARE THE ICES OF MARCH

 

Smith Point Field ?

The fact that this photo was in with the others leads me to believe it was taken at Smith Point Field. This was a piece of the Tangier Development that developer Frederick Quinby gave to the Army back in 1912. Quinby who had his own plane probably flew out of it with the Tangier Investors money. Other than a small press release about Quinby offering the land The only time I ever saw anything about Smith Point Field was on this 1929 Hagstrom Map.

 

 

KNAPP AERO FILES

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