Sign marks the spot of aviation history

The Valley Stream Historical Society has successfully campaigned and won approval for new historical markers at Mitchel Field. The society was recruited for the project by Josh Staff, curator at the Cradle of Aviation Museum in Uniondale.

Guy Ferrara, president of the Valley Stream Historical Society, and Gabe Parrish, vice president, recently proved their case in front of the Town of Hempstead’s Landmark Preservation Committee. They had to substantiate that Mitchel Field Air Force Base existed and used documents, pictures and testimonies to show the great accomplishments of this military airport..

At its height during World War II, the airfield had three asphalt runways — the largest was 3,000 feet long — parking ramps and numerous smaller hangars and other buildings. The field is named for former New York City Mayor John Mitchel, who died training as a flyer for the Air Service in Louisiana.

From 1917 to 1961, thousands of pilots were trained at Mitchel Field, which was formerly headquarters for the first U.S. Air Force. Between wars, the field was the Army’s premier air corps base. It was somewhat of a military Country Club with fine housing, clubs, pool rooms, polo fields and a large outdoor swimming pool to go along with tree lined streets. With is proximity to New York City, this was the No. 1 desired base in the United States.

In 1920 and 1925, it hosted the National Air Races. Of interest is the fact that the Navy flyers won most of the air races. Many famous pilots made good use of Mitchel Field for travel and for fundraiser air shows. Among them were Jimmy Doolittle, Charles Lindbergh, Wiley Post, Frank Hawks, Amelia Earhart and Elinor Smith.

Doolittle, on Sept. 24, 1929, became the first pilot in the world to officially take off and land an airplane using only instruments, called blind flying. Doolittle practiced blind flying at Curtiss Air Field in Valley Stream. He helped develop lights for night flying, fog equipment and blind flying instruments at Mitchel Field.

Two historic signs have now been erected by the Town of Hempstead. One sign is on Charles Lindbergh Boulevard at the entrance to the parking lot of the Cradle of Aviation Museum and the other is directly in front of the museum.

These signs represent a wonderful tribute to the men and women who served the United States and the hundreds of flyers trained at Mitchel Field, some of whom gave their ultimate sacrifice. Both signs also honor Doolittle’s 1929 blind flight.

The Historical Society was previously successful in securing a historical marker for the old Curtiss Airfield site. It was placed outside of the Valley Stream Home Depot.