In this painting from the National Guard historical series, members of the 1st Aero Company, New York National Guard, return from the first mass flight--12 JN-4"Jenny" aircraft-- in U.S. history from Mineola, Long Island to Princeton, N.J. and back, that was conducted Nov. 18-19, 1916.
The descendants of the 1st Aero Company, the New York Air National Guard's 106th Rescue Wing, is based on Long Island today, flying air rescue missions out of Francis Gabreski Airport; the oldest Air National Guard unit in the United States.
The 1st Aero Company was organized as an Signal Corps observation balloon company by the New York National Guard on 30 April, 1908.
One hundred soldiers gathered in the 71st Regiment Armory in New York City eventually formed the company, which in 1915 switched from balloons to airplanes.
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NY National Guard In the News
NationalGuard.mil -- Thu, 26 Jun 2025 New York Guard Trains for Disaster Response NIAGARA FALLS AIR RESERVE STATION, N.Y. One hundred New York National Guard Soldiers and Airmen from across the state participated in Operation Buffalo Falls, a Homeland Response Force (HRF)... (more)
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27East.com -- Mon, 16 Jun 2025 Malloy Promoted to Chief Master Sergeant in the New York Air National Guard Riverhead resident Timothy Daniel Malloy was promoted to chief master sergeant in the New York Air National Guard, during a ceremony on June 6 at the 106th Rescue Wing firehouse at Francis... (more)