USCG Air Station Brooklyn, NY

• Establishment: USCG Air Station Brooklyn was commissioned in 1938, making it one of the earliest Coast Guard air stations in the United States. • Location: The air station was located at Floyd Bennett Field in Brooklyn, New York, a site that previously served as New York City's first municipal airport. • World War II Contribution: During World War II, the air station played a crucial role in anti-submarine patrols and search-and-rescue missions along the Atlantic coast. • Aircraft Used: Over the years, the station operated a variety of aircraft, including the amphibious PBY Catalina, HU-16 Albatross, and HH-52A Seaguard helicopters. • Historic Rescue: In 1952, the air station participated in the dramatic rescue of survivors from the sinking of the SS Pendleton off the coast of Massachusetts—a story later popularized in the film "The Finest Hours." • Cold War Era: During the Cold War, USCG Air Station Brooklyn contributed to coastal defense and air-sea rescue missions in the busy New York metropolitan area. • Harbor Patrols: The air station regularly conducted patrols over New York Harbor, providing security and safety for one of the world’s busiest ports. • Training Ground: The station served as a major training center for Coast Guard aviators and support personnel, helping to develop modern rotary-wing search-and-rescue tactics. • Closure: USCG Air Station Brooklyn was closed in 1998, with its operations transferred to Air Station Atlantic City in New Jersey. • Legacy Today: The former location at Floyd Bennett Field is now part of the Gateway National Recreation Area, and some original Coast Guard buildings remain as reminders of its storied past.