Flying Boat/Seaplane of the Week: Grumman G-21 Goose “Duckling” (NC-1692) Owned by E. Roland Harriman
This week's Flying Boat/Seaplane is the Grumman G-21 Goose G-21 "Duckling" amphibian built by Grumman Aircraft Engineering Corporation in Long Island's Bethpage for financier E. Roland Harriman.
These never-before-published images of the "Duckling" at the "Port Washington" Seaplane Terminal were made available from the Beutenmiller Family Collection.
Beutenmuller Family Collection
William Beutenmuller (1915-1987) worked as a mechanic, flight mechanic and foreman of maintenance for various Long Island aviation firms including the Port Washington Marine Base, Grumman Engineering and the Sperry Gyroscope Company. He trained with Wright Aeronautical Corp, Pratt & Whitney, Allison and Sikorsky aircraft and engines.
In 1938 he served as the flight mechanic for pilot Cliff Kernochan. Together they traveled with railroad magnate and financier E. Roland Harriman and his family in Harriman's Grumman Goose "Duckling" to Cuba, Guatemala, Mexico, British Columbia and Harriman Ranch Idaho (now Harriman State Park). In 1957, William joined Radio Corporation of America in New Castle, Delaware working with company and military aircraft. He documented many of the airplanes that he worked on and observed and also collected photos from other seaplane and airplane enthusiasts of the period.
Jennifer Robinson, William's granddaughter, has scanned almost 500 negatives from the family collection and has graciously agreed to share them on VanderbiltCupRaces.com . Many of these historic images will be posted over the next few months with additional background on the amazing career of William Beutenmuller.
Be Safe, Stay Healthy, Save Lives,
Howard Kroplick
Reference: American Flying Boats and Amphibious Aircraft by E.R. Johnson
Link to Goose Central, the database for everything"Goose"
From the William Beutenmuller Family Collection
Bill Beutenmuller and the Duckling
Jennifer Robinson: This picture is my Grandfather and his soon to be sister-in-law, my great Aunt Margaret. I love this photo.
The Fate of Grumman G-21 Goose "Duckling" (NC-1692)
Allocated to No. 13 (OT) Sqn. Vancouver on March 29, 1942
Surplused May 9, 1945 at Patricia Bay and sold in Canada.
Bought on April 24, 1945 by Hamiltair LTD. (Hamilton Standard Propellers)
CF-BHL the first Civilian Goose in Canada
Malibu Searo 1945
BNP Airways in 1950
Central B.C. Airways
On January 21, 1953, force landed due to bad weather and sank at Kingscorner point north of Butedale, B.C. 5 fatalities. Only the pilot survived.
Comments
Loved flying on the goose with Antilles Airboats in the 70’s. I would ride in the co-pilot seat and hand crank the gear up before takeoff. Those big radial engines sounded great taxiing up the ramp!