Mitchel Air Force Base: Difference between revisions

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Browse history interactively
← Previous editNext edit →
Content deleted Content added
VisualWikitext
Bwmoll3 (talk | contribs)
137,292 edits
→‎History: edited
Bwmoll3 (talk | contribs)
137,292 edits
→‎World War II: edited and expanded
Line 66: Line 66:


===World War II===
===World War II===
In 1940 Mitchel Field was the location of the Air Defense Command, an agency charged with the development of a system of unified air defense for cities, vital industrial areas, continental bases, and armies in the field. Later, the [[First Air Force]], was given the responsibility for air defense planning and organization along the eastern seaboard Under its supervision an aircraft system was placed into operation.<ref name="mult2">[http://www.hempsteadplains.com/mfhst00.htm Office of Information Services Headquarters Continental Air Command, Mitchel Air Force Base, New York, 26 October 1955 Fact Sheet]</ref>
In 1940 Mitchel Field was the location of the Air Defense Command, an command charged with the mission to develop the air defense for cities, vital industrial areas, continental bases, and military facilities in the United States (also known as the "Zone of the Interior"). Later, [[First Air Force]], was given the responsibility for air defense planning and organization along the eastern seaboard Under its supervision an aircraft patrol system along the coast for observing shipping was placed into operation.<ref name="mult2">[http://www.hempsteadplains.com/mfhst00.htm Office of Information Services Headquarters Continental Air Command, Mitchel Air Force Base, New York, 26 October 1955 Fact Sheet]</ref>


Mitchel Field was a major source of supply in initial garrisoning and defense of North Atlantic bases. From here planning for the air defense of [[Nova Scotia]] and [[Newfoundland]] was conducted. Antisubmarine patrol missions were carried out in 1942 by [[Army Air Force]] planes based at Mitchel.<ref name="mult2">[http://www.hempsteadplains.com/mfhst00.htm Office of Information Services Headquarters Continental Air Command, Mitchel Air Force Base, New York, 26 October 1955 Fact Sheet]</ref>
Mitchel Field was a major source of supply in initial garrisoning and defense of North Atlantic air bases in [[Newfoundland]], [[Greenland]] and [[Iceland]]. From the airfield the planning for the air defense of [[Nova Scotia]] and [[Newfoundland]] was conducted. Antisubmarine patrol missions along the Atlantic coast were carried out in 1942 by the [[Army Air Force]] Antisubmarine Command aircraft based at Mitchel.<ref name="mult2">[http://www.hempsteadplains.com/mfhst00.htm Office of Information Services Headquarters Continental Air Command, Mitchel Air Force Base, New York, 26 October 1955 Fact Sheet]</ref>


Under the direction of the First Air Force, tactical units were formed at Mitchel Field trained and sent overseas. Additionally, thousands of personnel were processed through the base. Later, after VJ Day, Mitchel was the site of a major Air Force Separation Center.<ref name="mult2">[http://www.hempsteadplains.com/mfhst00.htm Office of Information Services Headquarters Continental Air Command, Mitchel Air Force Base, New York, 26 October 1955 Fact Sheet]</ref>
Under the direction of the First Air Force, Mitchel Army Airfield became a command and control base for both I Fighter and I Bomber Command. Tactical fighter groups and squadrons were formed at Mitchel to be trained at AAF Training Command bases (mostly in the east and southeast) before being deployed to the various overseas wartime theaters. Additionally, thousands of Army Air Force personnel were processed through the base for overseas combat duty. With the end of World War II, returning GIs were processed for separation at Mitchel.<ref name="mult2">[http://www.hempsteadplains.com/mfhst00.htm Office of Information Services Headquarters Continental Air Command, Mitchel Air Force Base, New York, 26 October 1955 Fact Sheet]</ref>


===United States Air Force===
===United States Air Force===

Revision as of 01:37, 10 December 2008

Mitchel Air Force Base



Mitchel Field
Former Mitchel AFB, 4 April 1994. The remains of a runway 5/23 are visible in the center.
Airport Diagram (pre-runway 5/23 extension)
Summary
Airport typeMilitary/Defunct
OwnerUnited States Air Force
OperatorUnited States Air Force
ServesNew York City
LocationGarden City, New York
Elevation AMSL85 ft / 26 m
Coordinates40°43′32″N 73°35′42″W / 40.72556°N 73.59500°W / 40.72556; -73.59500
Runways
Direction Length Surface
ft m
5/23 6,700 1,737 Concrete
9/27 4,960 1,512 Concrete
12/30 5,142 1,567 Concrete
18/36 4,800 1,463 Concrete
Source: Airfields-Freeman.com [1]
Mitchel AFB is located in New York
Mitchel AFB
Mitchel AFB
class=notpageimage|
Location of Mitchel AFB, New York
For the airport in Wisconsin see General Mitchell International Airport

Mitchel Air Force Base also known as Mitchel Field, originally called Hazelhurst Aviation Field #2, is a former United States Air Force base. It was established in 1918 in the Hempstead Plains of Long Island, New York, USA. The facilty was renamed Mitchel Field in honor of former New York City Mayor John Purroy Mitchel who was killed while training for the Air Service in Louisiana.

Mitchel Field is now a complex located in East Garden City, New York and Uniondale, New York, and home to Cradle of Aviation Museum, Nassau Coliseum, Mitchel Athletic Complex, Nassau Community College and Hofstra University.

History

Origins

For almost 250 years the area occupied by Mitchel AFB has played an important role in our history.

During the Revolutionary war it was known as the Hempstead Plains and used as an Army enlistment center. In the War of 1812 and in the Mexican War it was a training center for Infantry units. During the Civil War, it was the location of Camp Winfield Scott. In 1898, in the Spanish-American War, Mitchel's site was known as Camp Black.[2]

World War I

During World War I Camp Mills was located at the site of Mitchel AFB with the United States Army Rainbow (42nd) Division and the Fighting 69th Regiment training there.[2]

In 1917, Hazelhurt Field #2, was established just south of Hazelhurst Field to serve as an additional training and storage base. Curtiss JN-4 Jennies became a common sight over Long Island in 1917 and 1918. Hundreds of aviators were trained for war at these training fields, two of the largest in the United States. Numerous new wooden buildings and tents were erected on Roosevelt and Field #2 in 1918 in order to meet this rapid expansion. [3]

Between the Wars

Mitchel Field continued to grow after World War I and between 1929 and 1932. An extensive building program was undertaken after the war to turn the temporary wartime facilities into a permanent Army post, with new barracks, warehouses, hangar space and administrative buildings. Much of this construction still exists today, being used for non-miltary purposes.

In the 1920s and 1930s various Observation, Fighter and Bomber units were stationed at the airfield. It became a major aerodrome for both the Air Corps as well as various civilian activity. The 1920s was considered the golden age of Air Racing and on 27 November 1920, the Pulitzer Trophy Race was held at Mitchell Field. The race considted of four laps of a 29-mile course. Thirty-eight pilots entered and took off individually. The winner was Capt. Corliss Moseley, flying a Verville-Packard VCP-R racer, a cleaned-up version of the Army’s VCP-1 pursuit, at 156.54 mph.[4]

In October 1923, Mitchel Field was the scene of the first airplane jumping contest in the nation. During the same year, two world's airplane speed records were established there. In 1924, the air mail service had its inception in experimental flights begun at the airfield. In September 1929, Lt. Gen. James H. Doolittle, then a Lieutenant, made the world's first blind flight.[5]

In 1938, Mitchel was the starting point for the first nonstop transcontinental bomber flight, made by Army B-18 Bolos. Mitchel Field also served as a base from which the first demonstration of long-range aerial reconnaissance was made. In May 1939, three B-17s led by Lt. Curtis LeMay flew 750 miles out to sea and intercepted the Italian ocean liner SS Rex. This was a striking example of the range, mobility and accuracy of modern aviation at the time.[6]

World War II

In 1940 Mitchel Field was the location of the Air Defense Command, an command charged with the mission to develop the air defense for cities, vital industrial areas, continental bases, and military facilities in the United States (also known as the "Zone of the Interior"). Later, First Air Force, was given the responsibility for air defense planning and organization along the eastern seaboard Under its supervision an aircraft patrol system along the coast for observing shipping was placed into operation.[2]

Mitchel Field was a major source of supply in initial garrisoning and defense of North Atlantic air bases in Newfoundland, Greenland and Iceland. From the airfield the planning for the air defense of Nova Scotia and Newfoundland was conducted. Antisubmarine patrol missions along the Atlantic coast were carried out in 1942 by the Army Air Force Antisubmarine Command aircraft based at Mitchel.[2]

Under the direction of the First Air Force, Mitchel Army Airfield became a command and control base for both I Fighter and I Bomber Command. Tactical fighter groups and squadrons were formed at Mitchel to be trained at AAF Training Command bases (mostly in the east and southeast) before being deployed to the various overseas wartime theaters. Additionally, thousands of Army Air Force personnel were processed through the base for overseas combat duty. With the end of World War II, returning GIs were processed for separation at Mitchel.[2]

United States Air Force

Emblem of the AFRES 514th Troop Carrier Wing, assigned to Mitchel AFB, 1949-1961

In March 1946 Mitchel Army Airfield was designated as the location for the headquarters of the newly formed Air Defense Command responsible for the air defense of the entire United States as well as for the training of the air reserve forces. In December 1948, ADC's responsibilities were assumed by the Continental Air Command, also located at Mitchel AFB. In 1949 Mitchel AFB became the location of the headquarters of the First Air Force which has among its other missions the responsibility for supervising the training of the air reserve in 15 states and the District of Columbia.[2]

By 1949, Mitchel was relieved of the responsibility for defending New York City because of the many problems associated with operating tactical aircraft in an urban area. However, Mitchel did serve as the terminus for the last speed record set on Long Island, a transcontinental speed record of 4 hours, 8 minutes set by Col. W. Millikan in an F-86 on January 2, 1954. After several notable crashes, including a P-47 into Hofstra University's Barnard Hall, public pressure ultimately led to the field's closure.[3]

The last active unit to be based at Mitchel was the 514th Troop Carrier Wing flying Fairchild C-119 Flying Boxcars. Mitchel AFB was closed in April 1961 due to its proximity to urban areas, and its small runways. The property was turned over to Nassau County for redevelopment. Although closed as an Air Force base, the facility today still has military housing, a commissary and exchange facilities to support military families and activities in the area.[3]

The Garden City-Mitchel Field Secondary, a remnant of the Long Island Rail Road Central Branch from Garden City, ends in the northern part of Mitchel Field, providing sporadic freight service.

Major Commands to which assigned

Redesignated: First Air Force, 18 September 1942
Remained attached to Air Defense Command until 1 January 1951

Major Units assigned

Notes: Records incomplete for units assigned prior to 1940; ADC = Air Defense Command; AFRES = Air Force Reserve assigned to Continental Air Command (ConAc); 18th Air Force Troop Carrier Wings assigned to Tactical Air Command

Source for Major Commands and Major Units assigned:[7][8][9][10]


  • First Air Force (World War II), 1940-1946
    First Air Force (World War II), 1940-1946
  • First Air Force (USAF), 1949-1958
    First Air Force (USAF), 1949-1958
  • Air Defense Command, 1946-1951
    Air Defense Command, 1946-1951
  • Continental Air Command, 1948-1961
    Continental Air Command, 1948-1961

See also

References

Public Domain This article incorporates public domain material from the Air Force Historical Research Agency

  1. ^ Abandoned & Little-Known Airfields: New York, Central Long Island
  2. ^ a b c d e f Office of Information Services Headquarters Continental Air Command, Mitchel Air Force Base, New York, 26 October 1955 Fact Sheet
  3. ^ a b c The History of Mitchel Field, The Cradle of Aviation Museum
  4. ^ Pulitzer Trophy Air Races
  5. ^ USAFHRA Document 00489043
  6. ^ Mitchel Field History Document
  7. ^ Air Force Historical Research Agency Orgazational Records Branch
  8. ^ Mauer, Mauer (1969), Combat Squadrons of the Air Force, World War II, Air Force Historical Studies Office, Maxwell AFB, Alabama. ISBN 0892010975
  9. ^ Ravenstein, Charles A. (1984). Air Force Combat Wings Lineage and Honors Histories 1947-1977. Maxwell AFB, Alabama: Office of Air Force History. ISBN 0912799129.
  10. ^ Maurer, Maurer (1983). Air Force Combat Units Of World War II. Maxwell AFB, Alabama: Office of Air Force History. ISBN 0892010924.


External links

Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Mitchel_Air_Force_Base&oldid=256958071"