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Through 1914-1916 Verplanck did considerable flying for pleasure up and down the Hudson River and on Long Island Sound. During World War I he formed the first Aeronautic Division of the New York Naval Militia and was made Commanding Officer. Later he was commissioned Ensign in the U. S. Navy. After the war he organized the "Verplanck Flyers" which operated through 1920 carrying passengers. From 1920 on he devoted himself to banking and the management of Stony Kill Farms. After eleven years as President he became Chairman of the Board of the Fishkill National Bank in 1946.

In 1941 he was the donor of the "Verplanck Room" to the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York. In 1942 he and his brother gave Stony Kill Farms to the State of New York to be used by the New York School of Agriculture. Following a long illness Verplanck passed away at his home near Beacon, New York, on April 6, 1955, at age 74, survived by his wife and one brother. Burial was in the family plot in the Trinity Episcopal Church Cemetery at Fishkill, New York. He was a member of the Early Birds. 

Flying Pioneer, John B. R. Verplanck was a sportsman ambassador of early flying boat aviation, using his plane purely for pleasure. As a business and civic leader of his community he served in several worthy capacities for the betterment of his fellow townspeople and certainly contributed his bit to early American aviation history.


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