60 YEARS.
3 GENERATIONS.
Bohlke International Aviation was established in 1959 by Bill Bohlke, Sr.
1959
Bill Bohlke Sr. left Spring Valley, New York, with the dream of starting an airline in the Caribbean and landed on the beautiful island of St. Croix. (pictured: An avid pilot and aviator since the 1930’s, Mr. Bohlke served honorably as an officer in the Army Air Corps from 1942 ’45, flying & teaching in BT-13, B-17 & B-29’s.)1962
Bill Bohlke Jr. soon followed in his father’s footsteps and came to the island when he was sixteen to help his father in his aviation endeavors and build their family business. Bill Jr. soloed on his 16th birthday. Bill Sr. signed him off and the rest is history!
1964
Bill Sr. started his first commuter airline in the Caribbean, Virgin Islands Airways.1966
Bill Jr. married Ruth Ann Wolfferts ‘Tuddy’ in 1966. The couple worked well together, further expanding the family aviation business through many exciting stages.1967
Bill Sr. and Bill Jr. attend the Tortola BVI Airshow. 4,000 in attendance to see F104’s from the PRANG and more.1968
Bill Sr. started his first scheduled cargo airline, Caribbean Air Service, which he operated until retirement.
1970
The Bohlke’s operated Eastern Caribbean Airways. A roundtrip between St. Croix and St. Thomas was $27!1972
Virgin Islands Flight School offered Airplane Sightseeing.
1984
Bohlke International Aviation was officially formed.1989
Bill Jr. taught Billy how to fly in an Ercoupe.
2005
Bill Jr. retired from American Airlines. A safe career spanning over 37 years, putting him #2 seniority company wide and #1 in Miami upon his retirement.2016
Bohlke International Aviation partnered with AeroMD.
2019
Bohlke International Aviation made our furthest journey west from the USVI, from St. Thomas to Hawaii.2020
Bohlke International Aviation partnered with MN Aviation in Puerto Rico.