Roosevelt Airfield
Encyclopedia
Roosevelt Field was originally an airfield in Garden City
, Nassau County
, New York
.
's son, Quentin
, who was killed in air combat during World War I
. Roosevelt Field was the takeoff point for many historic flights in the early history of aviation
, including Charles Lindbergh's
1927 solo transatlantic flight
. It was also used by other pioneering aviators, including Amelia Earhart
and Wiley Post
.
The Hempstead Plains Aerodrome, originally encompassed 900 to 1000 acres (405 ha) east of Clinton Road and south of Old Country Road. The U.S. military began using the Hempstead Plains field before the U.S. entered World War I. When the U.S. entered the war in April 1917, the airfield was taken over as a training center for military pilots and renamed Hazelhurst Field. On September 24, 1918, the Army changed the name of the airfield to Roosevelt Field.
After the war, the U.S. Air Service authorized some companies to operate from Roosevelt Field but maintained control until July 1, 1920, at which time the government sold its buildings and improvements and relinquished control of the field. Subsequently, the property owners sold portions along the southern edge of the field and split the remainder of the property into two separate fields, Roosevelt Field on the eastern half, and Curtiss Field. Both fields were bought in 1929 by Roosevelt Field, Inc. and the consolidated property was once again renamed Roosevelt Field. The eastern field was sold in 1936 and became a racetrack, while the western field located at the corner of Clinton and Old Country Roads continued to operate as an aviation center. At its peak in the 1930s, it was America’s busiest civilian airfield.
Roosevelt Field was used by the Navy and Army during World War II. After the war, Roosevelt Field reverted to operation as a commercial airport until it closed on May 31, 1951.
painted a 126-foot fresco representing aviation history in Roosevelt Field, Long Island.
-based real estate company Webb and Knapp
gained a controlling interest in the airfield in 1950 and later built light factories on it. Currently its site is occupied by Roosevelt Field Mall
and Garden City Plaza.
Garden City, New York
Garden City is a village in the town of Hempstead in central Nassau County, New York, in the United States. It was founded by multi-millionaire Alexander Turney Stewart in 1869, and is located on Long Island, to the east of New York City, from mid-town Manhattan, and just south of the town of...
, Nassau County
Nassau County, New York
Nassau County is a suburban county on Long Island, east of New York City in the U.S. state of New York, within the New York Metropolitan Area. As of the 2010 census, the population was 1,339,532...
, New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
.
History
Originally named the Hempstead Plains Aerodrome, it was renamed in honor of President Theodore RooseveltTheodore Roosevelt
Theodore "Teddy" Roosevelt was the 26th President of the United States . He is noted for his exuberant personality, range of interests and achievements, and his leadership of the Progressive Movement, as well as his "cowboy" persona and robust masculinity...
's son, Quentin
Quentin Roosevelt
Quentin Roosevelt was the youngest and favorite son of President Theodore Roosevelt. Family and friends agreed that Quentin had many of his father's positive qualities and few of the negative ones. Inspired by his father and siblings, he joined the United States Army Air Service where he became a...
, who was killed in air combat during World War I
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
. Roosevelt Field was the takeoff point for many historic flights in the early history of aviation
Aviation
Aviation is the design, development, production, operation, and use of aircraft, especially heavier-than-air aircraft. Aviation is derived from avis, the Latin word for bird.-History:...
, including Charles Lindbergh's
Charles Lindbergh
Charles Augustus Lindbergh was an American aviator, author, inventor, explorer, and social activist.Lindbergh, a 25-year-old U.S...
1927 solo transatlantic flight
Transatlantic flight
Transatlantic flight is the flight of an aircraft across the Atlantic Ocean. A transatlantic flight may proceed east-to-west, originating in Europe or Africa and terminating in North America or South America, or it may go in the reverse direction, west-to-east...
. It was also used by other pioneering aviators, including Amelia Earhart
Amelia Earhart
Amelia Mary Earhart was a noted American aviation pioneer and author. Earhart was the first woman to receive the U.S. Distinguished Flying Cross, awarded for becoming the first aviatrix to fly solo across the Atlantic Ocean...
and Wiley Post
Wiley Post
Wiley Hardeman Post was a famed American aviator, the first pilot to fly solo around the world. Also known for his work in high altitude flying, Post helped develop one of the first pressure suits. His Lockheed Vega aircraft, the Winnie Mae, was on display at the National Air and Space Museum's...
.
The Hempstead Plains Aerodrome, originally encompassed 900 to 1000 acres (405 ha) east of Clinton Road and south of Old Country Road. The U.S. military began using the Hempstead Plains field before the U.S. entered World War I. When the U.S. entered the war in April 1917, the airfield was taken over as a training center for military pilots and renamed Hazelhurst Field. On September 24, 1918, the Army changed the name of the airfield to Roosevelt Field.
After the war, the U.S. Air Service authorized some companies to operate from Roosevelt Field but maintained control until July 1, 1920, at which time the government sold its buildings and improvements and relinquished control of the field. Subsequently, the property owners sold portions along the southern edge of the field and split the remainder of the property into two separate fields, Roosevelt Field on the eastern half, and Curtiss Field. Both fields were bought in 1929 by Roosevelt Field, Inc. and the consolidated property was once again renamed Roosevelt Field. The eastern field was sold in 1936 and became a racetrack, while the western field located at the corner of Clinton and Old Country Roads continued to operate as an aviation center. At its peak in the 1930s, it was America’s busiest civilian airfield.
Roosevelt Field was used by the Navy and Army during World War II. After the war, Roosevelt Field reverted to operation as a commercial airport until it closed on May 31, 1951.
Fresco
Aline HofheimerAline Rhonie Hofheimer
Aline Rhonie Hofheimer Brooks was one of the pioneering women aviation pilots in World War II. In March 2010, shortly after her centennial birthday, she was posthumously awarded the United States Congressional Gold Medal....
painted a 126-foot fresco representing aviation history in Roosevelt Field, Long Island.
Mall
ManhattanManhattan
Manhattan is the oldest and the most densely populated of the five boroughs of New York City. Located primarily on the island of Manhattan at the mouth of the Hudson River, the boundaries of the borough are identical to those of New York County, an original county of the state of New York...
-based real estate company Webb and Knapp
Webb and Knapp
Webb and Knapp was a real estate development firm, founded in 1922 by Robert C. Knapp and W. Seward Webb, along with Eliot Cross, a noted architect, who along with his brother John Walter Cross, formed the architectural partnership of Cross and Cross. William Zeckendorf joined the Firm in 1938 ...
gained a controlling interest in the airfield in 1950 and later built light factories on it. Currently its site is occupied by Roosevelt Field Mall
Roosevelt Field Mall
Roosevelt Field is an American shopping mall. It is the largest high-end shopping mall in the state of New York and eighth in the country as measured by gross leaseable area at 2,189,941 ft² . The mall is located in East Garden City, New York part of the Town of Hempstead on Long Island...
and Garden City Plaza.