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.
DMNA Press Releases
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NationalGuard.mil -- Fri, 04 Sep 2026 New York Guardsmen Earn Danish Military March Ribbon CAMP SMITH TRAINING SITE, Cortlandt Manor, N.Y. Two hundred and eleven New York National Guard Soldiers and Airmen tackled the rugged trails of the Hudson Highlands Aug. 28 to earn the Royal... (more)
NationalGuard.mil -- Tue, 01 Sep 2026 New York Guard Shares Air Assault Techniques With Swedish Partners LINKOPING, Sweden Four New York Army National Guard aviators shared information on U.S. Army air assault doctrine with members of the Swedish Air Forces 2nd Helicopter Battalion during an... (more)
Staten Island Live -- Tue, 01 Sep 2026 Gov. Hochul, Mayor Mamdani call on President Trump to release $87M in counterterrorism funding STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. New York Gov. Kathy Hochul and New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani called on President Trump and Department of Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin to release $87... (more)