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Hamptons.com
June 6, 2022

Sixty-Something: The Real Maverick Howard Hughes, Top Gun, and the Hamptons

T.J. Clementeby T.J. Clemente
in Community, Trending
Home Community

Aviation is a hot topic these days with the new blockbuster movie “Top Gun: Maverick” in the news. The talk of the east end as well as the nation has been the huge buzz created by people actually going back to movie theaters and watching this movie. It celebrates the return of the “need for speed,” along with perhaps a need to do things surrounded by others.

 

The east end has a myriad of fascinating stories and tales usually passed down and occasionally posted or written about. Often these tales center around a legendary character such as Babe Ruth. Ruth loved duck hunting in Bridgehampton back in his time.

 

One of my favorites tales has to be story of Howard Hughes and his Bridgehampton episodes of landing his plane on the Hayground Airstrip, so he could go visit his girlfriend.

 

On September 13, 1935 Howard Hughes’ “H-1 racer,” became the fastest plane in the world going 352 mph over Santa Ana, California. He, too, had the “need for speed.” The “H-1 racer” is prominently on display at the Smithsonian’s National Air and Space Museum in Washington, D.C.

 

While driving through Bridgehampton, on Route 27 you can see a “used car” location that was once the service station originally opened by one B.J. Corrigan in 1930. The original Corrigan’s sign still exists. There was once a Hayground airstrip located only a quarter mile from Corrigan’s Gas Station/Repair shop. B.J. Corrigan was a mechanic and renowned master of the art of repairing gas engines.

 

This following story was first told to me by legendary mechanic and Southampton local Swede Edwards. Through Swede’s effort I was able to contact B.J. Corrigan’s son, Bernard “Barney” Corrigan to confirm it.

 

Bernard Corrigan recalled that Howard Hughes used to commute to the east end and land his plane on the local airstrip once owned by a George Strong, called Hayground Airstrip. Today it is now a potato patch. Howard Hughes, one of the great mechanical minds of his times had become friends with B.J. Corrigan, even taking him flying with him. The story goes that Howard had a female interest who had ownership affiliation with a local watering hole called the “Step In,” that later on would be renamed “Julie’s.”

 

With limited radio service and no cell phones, texts or emails, Howard Hughes would literally do a low-level flyby and buzz the gas station to get B.J. Corrigan’s attention that he was landing nearby. Then B.J. would get into his Plymouth, pick Howard Hughes up, and lend one of the wealthiest playboy aviators and airplane pioneers in the U.S.A. his car. That Plymouth would then end up parked in front of the “Step In.” This went on for a few years.

 

Amazingly enough, Howard Hughes also landed a sea plane on Georgica Pond. He was giving a ride to Peter Herrick and Larry Gourlay whose family he was visiting.

 

Hughes, born in Humble, Texas, went to prep school in Boston. While there he met a classmate who took him for his first visit to the Hamptons to play golf at the then new National Golf Links course.

 

Long island has quite an aviation history. Amazingly, over 1,000 people assembled on May 27th, 1927 at Roosevelt Field in Hempstead, Long Island to watch Charles Lindbergh and his plane, “The Spirt of St. Louis,” take off for Paris. The rest is history. Three years later Leroy Grumman opened Grumman Corporation in Baldwin, Long Island. His company, originally actually making truck frames, received a U.S. Navy contract in 1931 to engineer retractable landing gear. Eventually Grumman would create these historic fighter planes. The F4F Wildcat, F6F Hellcat, TBF Avenger, A-Intruder, the F-14. Grumman also produced the Lunar Landing Module (LEM) the vehicle that successfully landed on the moon.

 

The connection from Howard Hughes to Tom Cruise being the Maverick character in Top Gun is a straight line connecting us all with the fascination of the magnificence of fast military planes.

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San Gennaro Feast of the Hamptons

September 13 @ 10:00 AM - September 14 @ 10:00 PM
Good Ground Road Hampton Bays, N.Y. 11946
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Tour of the Beebe Windmill with Southampton Town Historian Julie Greene

September 13 @ 11:00 AM - September 13 @ 12:00 PM
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Workshop: Small Pictures, Big Feelings: Comic Art for Healing with Malavika Kannan

September 13 @ 01:00 PM - September 13 @ 03:00 PM
Ma's House
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The Bridge IX

September 13 @ 02:00 PM - September 13 @ 07:00 PM
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East End Real Estate Market is “Flexing”

East End Real Estate Market is “Flexing”

  • LVIS thrift shops are open Tuesdays through Saturdays 10 AM through 5 PM

donations are accepted Wednesday through Saturday 10 AM through 1 PM by appointment 

located at 95 Main St East Hampton
  • Check out the Top Hamptons Events This Weekend!⁠
⁠
🚗 The Bridge IX⁠
📅 Sat, Sept 13 | 2–7PM⁠
📍 The Bridge, Bridgehampton⁠
Over 300 rare automobiles showcased across stunning landscapes.⁠
⁠
🎬 23rd Annual Surf Movie Night⁠
📅 Fri, Sept 12 | 5:30–9PM⁠
📍 Southampton Arts Center⁠
Surfboard swap, live music & outdoor film screening. 🌊⁠
⁠
🍝 San Gennaro Feast of the Hamptons⁠
📅 Sat, Sept 13 – Sun, Sept 14 | 10AM⁠
📍 Hampton Bays⁠
Italian pastries, live entertainment & fireworks Sat @ 8:15PM 🎆⁠
⁠
🎭 In Process: Roderick George⁠
📅 Sat, Sept 13 | 7PM⁠
📍 Guild Hall, East Hampton⁠
A special in-process presentation of The Missing Fruit (Part I).⁠
⁠
🎤 Sheena Easton at WHBPAC⁠
📅 Sat, Sept 13 | 8PM⁠
📍 Westhampton Beach PAC⁠
Grammy-winning artist live on stage!⁠
⁠
☕ Cars & Coffee⁠
📅 Sun, Sept 14 | 9–11AM⁠
📍 Bridgehampton Museum⁠
Classic & exotic cars, food, drinks & live music.⁠
⁠
🛍 Hampton Vintage⁠
📅 Sun, Sept 14 | 10AM–5PM⁠
📍 Westhampton Beach Village Green⁠
Shop unique vintage finds!⁠
⁠
🎶 Hamptons Festival of Music Finale⁠
📅 Sun, Sept 14 | 4PM⁠
📍 St. Luke’s Church, East Hampton⁠
Featuring Cimarosa, Berlioz & Beethoven.⁠
⁠
🍷 Wine Dinner with Pradorey at R.AIRE⁠
📅 Tues, Sept 16 | 6:30PM⁠
📍 Hampton Bays⁠
Five-course tasting menu with exquisite wine pairings.⁠
⁠
🎥 Toy Story 30th Anniversary Screening⁠
📅 Sept 12–15 | Various Times⁠
📍 Southampton Playhouse⁠
Celebrate Woody & Buzz’s timeless adventure!⁠
⁠
Check out more events at Hamptons.com (Link in Bio)⁠
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#carshow #hamptons #sangennaro #sangennarofeast #winedinner #bridgeIX
  • The Animal Rescue Fund of the Hamptons (ARF Hamptons) hosted the Bow Wow Meow Ball in East Hampton. The evening’s honorees, Ellen and Chuck Scarborough, were presented with the Champion of Animals Award, recognizing their more than twenty-five years of support to ARF. ⁠
⁠
Over 400 guests celebrated ARF’s remarkable work with cocktails, followed by dinner catered by Olivier Cheng. Peter Marino, accompanied by his daughter and ARF Board Member Isabelle Trapnell Marino, presented the Scarboroughs with their award. ⁠
⁠
📸: Patrick McMullan/PMC⁠
⁠
Check out the full gallery at Hamptons.com (Link in Bio)⁠
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#arf #bowwowmeowball #hamptons #animalrescuefund #animalrescue
  • Make sure to add this event to your list for next summer
#Seafood #localeats #mtk #montaukgreen
  • I recently toured the new Rolex Boutique by London Jewelers in East Hampton, and it’s one of the most beautiful retail spaces I’ve ever stepped into. Located on Newtown Lane, the boutique is set inside a restored historic home that dates back to 1897, originally designed as a summer cottage.⁠
⁠
From the outside, it has that classic East Hampton charm, cedar shingles, white trim, and lush landscaping. But once you step inside, it’s all about quiet sophistication.⁠
⁠
The space is warm and welcoming, with walnut wood paneling, soft neutral tones, and beautiful textures throughout. There’s a fluted marble wall in a rich green Verdi Alpi stone that immediately catches your eye. It’s one of those details that’s understated but unmistakably Rolex.⁠
⁠
Read the full article at Hamptons.com (Link in Bio)⁠
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#rolex #easthampton #hamptons #luxury #watch⁠
  • 🎾 Men’s US Open Final Viewing Party⁠
📅 Sun, Sept 7 • 2–5PM⁠
📍 Canoe Place Inn, Hampton Bays⁠
Watch the riveting Men’s US Open Final with drinks, grilled classics & fellow tennis fanatics in the lush garden.⁠
⁠
🦞 Montauk Seafood Festival⁠
📅 Sat, Sept 6 – Sun, Sept 7 • 12–5PM⁠
📍 On the Green, Montauk⁠
The ultimate seafood event in the Hamptons! Lobster rolls, fish tacos, chowder, oysters & more 🐚🍤⁠
⁠
🩰 Master Class w/ Kat Wildish⁠
📅 Sat, Sept 6⁠
📍 Hamptons Ballet Theatre School, Bridgehampton⁠
Open-level adult ballet class with world-renowned former NYCB & ABT dancer Kat Wildish. One day only!⁠
⁠
🎶 Hamptons Festival of Music⁠
📅 Sat, Sept 6 • 7PM⁠
📍 St. Luke’s Episcopal Church, East Hampton⁠
THFM’s MainStage Festival Orchestra featuring The New American Sinfonietta 🎻✨⁠
⁠
🌾 Outstanding in the Field (Sagaponack)⁠
📅 Sun, Sept 7 • 3PM⁠
Dine where the food is grown! Guest chef Jason Weiner returns for his 19th year 🍽️🌱⁠
⁠
😂 Samantha Bee Live⁠
📅 Sat, Sept 6 • 8PM⁠
📍 WHBPAC, Westhampton Beach⁠
Award-winning comedian Samantha Bee brings her one-woman show to the Hamptons!⁠
⁠
🍴 Stirring The Pot: Andrew Carmellini⁠
📅 Sun, Sept 7 • 11AM⁠
📍 Guild Hall, East Hampton⁠
NYT’s Florence Fabricant interviews star chef Andrew Carmellini about his restaurant empire.⁠
⁠
🌕 Full Harvest Moon Hike⁠
📅 Sun, Sept 7 • 7:30PM⁠
📍 Meet at SOFO Museum, Bridgehampton/Sag Harbor Tpke⁠
Walk under the moonlight with Friends of the Long Pond Greenbelt 🌙✨⁠
⁠
🎨 Style Beading Workshop⁠
📅 Fri, Sept 5 • 1PM⁠
📍 Nathaniel Rogers House, Bridgehampton⁠
Join Indigenous artist Savannah LeCornu to learn traditional beading techniques.⁠
⁠
⛳ A Legendary Day at Sebonack!⁠
📅 Tues, Sept 9 • 8:30AM–5PM⁠
📍 Sebonack Golf Club, Southampton⁠
An unforgettable day of golf supporting Westhampton Beach PAC 🌟⁠
⁠
👉 Which event are you going to this weekend?⁠
⁠
Check out more events at Hamptons.com (Link in Bio)⁠
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#community #entertainment #hamptons #usopen #golf #comedy #seafood #montauk
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