Subscribe to Guide
No Result
View All Result
Hamptons.com
  • Spotlight Magazine
  • Lifestyle
    • Featured
    • Entertainment
    • Arts
    • Community
    • Dining
    • Recreation
    • Trending
  • Events
    • Events Calendar
    • Post an Event
    • Gallery
  • Real Estate
    • Real Estate Features
    • Hamptons Real Estate Market Data
    • Search Real Estate
      • Open Houses
      • Search Sales
      • Search Rentals
    • Title Insurance
    • Happening In The Hamptons Podcast
  • Live Cameras
    • All Live Cameras
    • Live Weather Cams
    • Amagansett, Atlantic Avenue Beach
    • Bridgehampton, West Scott Cameron Beach
    • East Hampton Village, Main Beach
    • East Hampton Village, Main Street
    • East Hampton Village, Newtown Lane
    • Hampton Bays, Ponquogue Beach
    • Hampton Bays, Ponquogue Bridge
    • Hampton Bays, Shinnecock Fishing Dock
    • Hampton Bays, Tiana Beach
    • Long Island Aquarium | Coral Reef
    • Long Island Aquarium | Penguins
    • Long Island Aquarium | Shark Tank
    • Montauk, Downtown Circle
    • Montauk, Lars Simenson Skatepark
    • Montauk, Gin Beach & Inlet
    • Montauk, Sunset Beach & Inlet
    • Sagaponack, Sagg Main Beach
    • Sag Harbor, Foster Memorial Beach
    • Sag Harbor, Long Wharf Marina
    • Sag Harbor, Main Street (South)
    • Sag Harbor, Sag Harbor Bay
    • Sag Harbor, Windmill Beach & Bay
    • Shelter Island, South Ferry
    • Southampton, 39A to Montauk Hwy Merge
    • Southampton, Conscience Point Marina
    • Southampton Village, Coopers Beach
    • Southampton Village, Main Street (North)
    • Southampton Village, Main Street (Hildreths)
    • Westhampton Village, Main Street (East)
    • Westhampton Village, Rogers Beach
  • Public WiFi
    • Public WiFi Map
    • Public Wi-Fi Support
  • Spotlight Magazine
  • Lifestyle
    • Featured
    • Entertainment
    • Arts
    • Community
    • Dining
    • Recreation
    • Trending
  • Events
    • Events Calendar
    • Post an Event
    • Gallery
  • Real Estate
    • Real Estate Features
    • Hamptons Real Estate Market Data
    • Search Real Estate
      • Open Houses
      • Search Sales
      • Search Rentals
    • Title Insurance
    • Happening In The Hamptons Podcast
  • Live Cameras
    • All Live Cameras
    • Live Weather Cams
    • Amagansett, Atlantic Avenue Beach
    • Bridgehampton, West Scott Cameron Beach
    • East Hampton Village, Main Beach
    • East Hampton Village, Main Street
    • East Hampton Village, Newtown Lane
    • Hampton Bays, Ponquogue Beach
    • Hampton Bays, Ponquogue Bridge
    • Hampton Bays, Shinnecock Fishing Dock
    • Hampton Bays, Tiana Beach
    • Long Island Aquarium | Coral Reef
    • Long Island Aquarium | Penguins
    • Long Island Aquarium | Shark Tank
    • Montauk, Downtown Circle
    • Montauk, Lars Simenson Skatepark
    • Montauk, Gin Beach & Inlet
    • Montauk, Sunset Beach & Inlet
    • Sagaponack, Sagg Main Beach
    • Sag Harbor, Foster Memorial Beach
    • Sag Harbor, Long Wharf Marina
    • Sag Harbor, Main Street (South)
    • Sag Harbor, Sag Harbor Bay
    • Sag Harbor, Windmill Beach & Bay
    • Shelter Island, South Ferry
    • Southampton, 39A to Montauk Hwy Merge
    • Southampton, Conscience Point Marina
    • Southampton Village, Coopers Beach
    • Southampton Village, Main Street (North)
    • Southampton Village, Main Street (Hildreths)
    • Westhampton Village, Main Street (East)
    • Westhampton Village, Rogers Beach
  • Public WiFi
    • Public WiFi Map
    • Public Wi-Fi Support
No Result
View All Result
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.

Sign up for our weekly newsletter!

Get the top Hamptons events and latest scoop!

What's Happening in the Hamptons

Related Posts

Top Hamptons Events This Weekend: August 22nd, 2025
Entertainment

Top Hamptons Events This Weekend: August 22nd, 2025

August 22, 2025
Big Voices, Small Stage: The Soho Sessions Returns to Amagansett with Maren Morris and Yola
Entertainment

Big Voices, Small Stage: The Soho Sessions Returns to Amagansett with Maren Morris and Yola

August 22, 2025
Elias Friedman “The Dogist”, Irina Kro Eicke and more attend ARF’s Bow Wow Meow Ball
Gallery

Elias Friedman “The Dogist”, Irina Kro Eicke and more attend ARF’s Bow Wow Meow Ball

August 22, 2025

Search Articles

No Result
View All Result

LOCAL EVENTS

Events

23
Aug
23
Aug
-
23
Aug

Round Pond Guided Hike

August 23 @ 08:00 AM - August 23 @ 10:00 AM
Meet at the end of Round Pond Lane, Sag Harbor.
23
Aug
23
Aug
-
23
Aug

Weekend Wonder Camp, featuring Ice Cube Paintings and Ransom Style Art (ages 5-12)

August 23 @ 09:00 AM - August 23 @ 03:00 PM
44 Meadow Way East Hampton, NY 11937
23
Aug
23
Aug
-
23
Aug

En Plein Air with Howard Rose at the South Fork Natural History Museum & Nature Center

August 23 @ 10:00 AM - August 23 @ 01:00 PM
South Fork Natural History Museum & Nature Center, 377 Bridgehampton-Sag Harbor Turnpike, Bridgehampton, NY 11932
23
Aug
23
Aug
-
23
Aug

Bark Jacobs by Marc Jacobs is Back at The HUB for 8/23 Only

August 23 @ 11:00 AM - August 23 @ 07:00 PM
The HUB 2183 Montauk Highway Bridgehampton, NY 11932
23
Aug
23
Aug
-
23
Aug

STEAM: Ice Cube Painting (ages 3-12)

August 23 @ 11:00 AM - August 23 @ 12:00 PM
44 Meadow Way East Hampton, NY 11937
Load more listings
Next Post
East End Real Estate Market is “Flexing”

East End Real Estate Market is “Flexing”

  • @wagsandwalks @themontaukbeachhouse 

Puppies + Pilates + @montaukila = The Perfect Day

Check out our Events Calendar for more events! (link in bio)

#wagsandwalks #animaladoption #adoptdontshop❤️ #dog #montauk #montaukbeachhouse #montaukila #pilates
  • Check out the Top Hamptons Events This Weekend! ⁠
⁠
✨ 50th Annual Hampton Classic Horse Show⁠
📅 Sun, Aug 24 – Sun, Aug 31, 2025 | 8am–5pm⁠
📍 240 Snake Hollow Rd, Bridgehampton, NY⁠
🐴 One of the largest outdoor horse shows in the U.S., a premier summer destination for competitors & spectators.⁠
⁠
⁠
🎶 Apollo in the Hamptons⁠
📅 Fri, Aug 22, 2025 | 6pm⁠
📍 Si Si, 295 Three Mile Harbor Hog Creek Rd, East Hampton, NY⁠
Experience the essence of the legendary Apollo Theater with DJ Cassidy, Doug E. Fresh & more!⁠
⁠
⁠
🦈 50th Anniversary of JAWS Celebration – Montauk⁠
📅 Sun, Aug 24, 2025 | 12pm–7pm⁠
📍 Shark Bar Montauk, 2167 Montauk Hwy⁠
Screening, live music with Molly Scheider, themed cocktails, shark merch 🦈 — all to benefit Hayground School.⁠
⁠
⁠
😂 Chelsea Handler at WHBPAC⁠
📅 Fri, Aug 22, 2025 | 8pm⁠
📍 WHBPAC, 76 Main St, Westhampton Beach, NY⁠
A night of comedy with Chelsea Handler!⁠
⁠
⁠
🎵 The Knocks at Surf Lodge⁠
📅 Sat, Aug 23, 2025 | 4pm⁠
📍 The Surf Lodge, 183 Edgemere St, Montauk, NY⁠
The Knocks bring their signature groove to the Hamptons.⁠
⁠
⁠
🌅 Generation S.O.S – Live From Water Mill Fundraiser⁠
📅 Sun, Aug 24, 2025 | 5pm–8pm⁠
📍 Water Mill, NY⁠
Featuring Jason Biggs, Luke K, & MC Sophie Sumner.⁠
⁠
⁠
🇬🇷 Mykonos Nights at Calissa⁠
📅 Fri, Aug 22, 2025 | 10pm⁠
📍 Calissa, 1020 Montauk Hwy, Water Mill, NY⁠
End-of-summer vibes with DJs, drinks & dancing.⁠
⁠
⁠
👜🐶 Bark Jacobs by Marc Jacobs at The HUB⁠
📅 Sat, Aug 23, 2025 | 11am–7pm⁠
📍 The HUB, 2183 Montauk Hwy, Bridgehampton, NY⁠
Shop Marc Jacobs & get your pup’s portrait or initials hand-painted on your accessories.⁠
⁠
⁠
🐾 Wags & Walks’ Party Cruise⁠
📅 Sun, Aug 24, 2025 | 3pm–5pm⁠
📍 Easy Breeze Cruises, 462 W Lake Dr, Montauk, NY⁠
Cruise Montauk waters with cocktails & adoptable pups.⁠
⁠
⁠
🎨 5th Annual Celebrating Creatives of Color⁠
📅 Sat, Aug 23, 2025 | 11am–5pm⁠
📍 The Church, 48 Madison St, Sag Harbor, NY⁠
Showcasing artists & authors of color, with works available for sale.⁠
⁠
Check out more events at Hamptons.com (Link in Bio)⁠
.⁠
.⁠
#hamptons #weekend #hamptonsclassic #jaws #montauk #apollotheater⁠
  • The Southampton Animal Shelter Foundation held its “Sweet 16th” Unconditional Love Gala, a premier Hamptons event celebrating compassion, community, and animal welfare at a private estate in Bridgehampton. The Unconditional Love Gala is SASF’s largest fundraiser of the year, with proceeds directly supporting the shelter’s mission to provide care, rehabilitation, and forever homes for homeless animals. ⁠
⁠
Check out the full gallery at Hamptons.com (Link in Bio)⁠
.⁠
.⁠
.⁠
.⁠
#animalshelter ⁠
#fundraiser #hamptons #southampton
  • Make sure you check out the sunset music series before the end of August. For more info on dates and times check out the Wölffer website.

#sumsetmusic #winestand #wölffer #rosé
  • Hilary Matt Interiors is a residential design firm started and located in New York City with projects spanning across the country, including in the Hamptons and East End.⁠
⁠
Hilary, principal and founder, is known for a bold aesthetic that is comfortable and livable. She always keeps her clients at the forefront so they can express themselves as individuals through their spaces. After starting out in the fashion industry, Hilary felt a call to interior design where she has been bringing her unique approach and style to every space as the brand continues to grow.⁠
⁠
Hilary spoke more about her background, how each HMI project differs from one another, and why the Hamptons is such a special place to her. She also shared her top 5 interior design tips as inspiration.⁠
⁠
Can you discuss your background and how you got started with interior design?⁠
⁠
HM: I studied business and apparel merchandising. After graduating, my first job was at a women’s contemporary showroom in NYC. I had always loved fashion and wanted to be in the industry. After a year, I realized it wasn’t quite what I expected. I had always been interested in interior design, so I took a leap of faith and accepted a job as an assistant to an interior designer. I was initially nervous to leave fashion, but I figured I could always return. I ended up loving it and worked with her for eight years, learning the ins and outs of the business. I also took classes on weekends and evenings to learn computer programs, scaling, and other essential skills. After leaving that position and having my first son, I started my own company, which has snowballed into what we are today.⁠
⁠
⁠
Read the full interview at Hamptons.com (Link in Bio)⁠
.⁠
.⁠
.⁠
.⁠
#hilarymatt ⁠
#hilarymattinteriors ⁠
#hamptons ⁠
#interiordesigner⁠
#hamptons lifestyle⁠
#interiorstyling⁠
#design
  • Comedian Des Bishop took the stage at Westhampton Beach Performing Arts Center this week and delivered laugh after laugh. A native New Yorker, Des moved to Ireland in his teenage years, which ultimately inspired his start in comedy and a successful career that has spanned three decades.⁠
⁠
His comedy is full of observational humor and nostalgia, whether it be about his many cross-cultural experiences, an ever-changing societal landscape, and his own personal stories growing up. Des brings energy and a unique perspective to every show, evident at his Westhampton show, the place he has spent all his summers since the 90s.⁠
⁠
Des spoke more about his background, how his experiences have shaped his approach to comedy, his connection with the East End, and his WHBPAC show.⁠
⁠
Can you tell us a bit about your background and how you first got into comedy?⁠
⁠
DB: Well, my background is a little complicated, but the quick version is I grew up in Queens, flunked out of St. Francis Prep at 14, and ended up going to Ireland to boarding school in 1990. It was a crazy, life-changing experience, but it definitely saved my education and ultimately inspired a comedy career that in the early days focused a lot on being an outsider looking in. It’s hard to know if I ever would have tried stand-up if I hadn’t been in Ireland. I got sober at 19 and it was a comedian I knew from that world that pushed me to try stand up. Once I got on stage that was all she wrote. I was addicted.⁠
⁠
Read the full interview at Hamptons.com (Link in Bio)⁠
.⁠
.⁠
.⁠
.⁠
.⁠
#desbishop #comedy #westhampton #whbpac
Facebook Twitter Instagram Youtube
Hamptons.com

Saunders Broadcasting Corp.

Phone: 631-613-8440
Email: [email protected]
Facebook: Facebook.com/HamptonsOnline
Twitter: @Hamptons
Instagram: @HamptonsOnline

About Us | Contact Us

Hamptons.com

  • Lifestyle
  • Events
  • Real Estate
  • Live Cameras
  • Public WiFi

Subscribe

Sign up for our weekly newsletter!

Get the top Hamptons events and latest scoop!

© 2025 Hamptons.com | All rights reserved
Saunders Broadcasting Corp.
Terms & Conditions | Privacy Policy | About Us | Contact Us

No Result
View All Result
  • Spotlight Magazine
  • Lifestyle
    • Featured
    • Entertainment
    • Arts
    • Community
    • Dining
    • Recreation
    • Trending
  • Events
    • Events Calendar
    • Post an Event
    • Gallery
  • Real Estate
    • Real Estate Features
    • Hamptons Real Estate Market Data
    • Search Real Estate
      • Open Houses
      • Search Sales
      • Search Rentals
    • Title Insurance
    • Happening In The Hamptons Podcast
  • Live Cameras
    • All Live Cameras
    • Live Weather Cams
    • Amagansett, Atlantic Avenue Beach
    • Bridgehampton, West Scott Cameron Beach
    • East Hampton Village, Main Beach
    • East Hampton Village, Main Street
    • East Hampton Village, Newtown Lane
    • Hampton Bays, Ponquogue Beach
    • Hampton Bays, Ponquogue Bridge
    • Hampton Bays, Shinnecock Fishing Dock
    • Hampton Bays, Tiana Beach
    • Long Island Aquarium | Coral Reef
    • Long Island Aquarium | Penguins
    • Long Island Aquarium | Shark Tank
    • Montauk, Downtown Circle
    • Montauk, Lars Simenson Skatepark
    • Montauk, Gin Beach & Inlet
    • Montauk, Sunset Beach & Inlet
    • Sagaponack, Sagg Main Beach
    • Sag Harbor, Foster Memorial Beach
    • Sag Harbor, Long Wharf Marina
    • Sag Harbor, Main Street (South)
    • Sag Harbor, Sag Harbor Bay
    • Sag Harbor, Windmill Beach & Bay
    • Shelter Island, South Ferry
    • Southampton, 39A to Montauk Hwy Merge
    • Southampton, Conscience Point Marina
    • Southampton Village, Coopers Beach
    • Southampton Village, Main Street (North)
    • Southampton Village, Main Street (Hildreths)
    • Westhampton Village, Main Street (East)
    • Westhampton Village, Rogers Beach
  • Public WiFi
    • Public WiFi Map
    • Public Wi-Fi Support

© 2025 Hamptons.com | All rights reserved
Saunders Broadcasting Corp.
Terms & Conditions | Privacy Policy | About Us | Contact Us