I know little about the SBC Helldivers of Naval Reserve Aviation Base New York, located at
Floyd Bennett Field, in Southeast Brooklyn, New York. But I believe that at least three squadrons
operated from the base; two Naval Reserve outfits, VS-3R and VS-4R, and one USMC, VMS-2R.

Most of the photos on this page were taken by the legendary Rudy Arnold. The flying fields of
the New York City area were his stomping grounds, and he based his photography
business first at Curtiss Field on Long Island, then at Floyd Bennett Field.

SBC-4 BuNo. 1813 was photographed by Rudy Arnold at Floyd Bennett Field on
March 27th, 1940. This ship was assigned to Lieutenant Commander Donald F. Smith,
commanding officer of NRAB New York from June of 1938 to April of 1941.


National Air and Space Museum Archives (Rudy Arnold Photo Collection) - Larger Image

SBC-4 BuNo. 1499 at Floyd Bennett Field on August 1st, 1939.
She has yet to be adorned with squadron or flight markings.


National Air and Space Museum Archives (Rudy Arnold Photo Collection) - Larger Image

Headquarters flight:
BuNos. 1813, 1814, and 1815, April 27th, 1940.


National Air and Space Museum Archives (Rudy Arnold Photo Collection) - Larger Image

A closer look at 1813...


National Air and Space Museum Archives (Rudy Arnold Photo Collection) - Larger Image

...1814 and 1815.


National Air and Space Museum Archives (Rudy Arnold Photo Collection) - Larger Image

On the left, Naval Reservists Commander John Lansing Callan and John J. Bergan,
regard one of NRAB New York's Helldivers while on the right Franklin D. Roosevelt, Jr.,
and Lieutenant Commander Donald F. Smith have a chat on June 17th, 1940.


National Air and Space Museum Archives (Rudy Arnold Photo Collection) - Larger Image

SBC-4 BuNo. 1842, the same ship shown in the previous photo, was snapped by Rudy Arnold
at Floyd Bennett Field later the same year, on October 14th, 1940.


National Air and Space Museum Archives (Rudy Arnold Photo Collection) - Larger Image

A fine view of Lieutenant Commander Smith's #1, SBC-4 BuNo 1813.
Pre-war US Naval Aviation certainly was colorful, wasn't it?


National Air and Space Museum Archives (Hans Groenhoff Photo Collection) - Larger Image

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