By Andrew Hackmack
The short-lived airport opened 80 years ago and is now the site of the Green Acres Mall.
The field formally opened on April 7, 1929, after the smaller Rogers Airport and adjoining Reisert Farm were purchased by the Curtiss-Wright Corporation. The airport, with its three runaways formed in the shape of a triangle, remained fully operational for nearly five years.
"It was world famous because the great flyers of the world flew out of there and they loved the place," said Guy Ferrara, a Valley Stream Historical Society trustee. Ferrara has spent much time researching the airfield and is lobbying to have a historical marker placed on the site.
Six hangars were built at Curtiss Airfield to house airplanes and four remain standing today. Those buildings now are privately owned commercial properties and have been expanded. Home Depot sits on the site of the other two hangars. Ferrara noted that the front of the home improvement store was even shaped to resemble that of the airport's old facilities.
Lindbergh, who was born in 1902, was largely instrumental in designing Curtiss Airfield, according to Ferrara. He treated the airport as if it were his own. "Any time a famous flyer came in, he was there to meet them," Ferrara said of Lindbergh. "He was like the mayor of Valley Stream."
In fact, Ferrara said, Lindbergh actually became good friends with Arthur Hendrickson, the village's first mayor. Hendrickson gave the opening address when Curtiss Airfield was dedicated 80 years ago.
Doolittle was the first pilot to fly "blind." In 1929, he successfully took off and landed at Mitchel Field with his windows covered up. Doolittle used just his instruments to guide him. "Where did he practice that? He practiced that at Curtiss," Ferrara said, adding that because Mitchel Field was in use as an air force base, Doolittle was not able to do his test runs there.
The Ninety-Nines, the first chartered group of licensed women pilots, was formed at Curtiss Airfield. A group of 26 female pilots met over tea and cookies on Nov. 2, 1929, and established the organization. Earhart was elected the group's first president in 1931.
Other famous pilots to fly in and out of Curtiss Airfield were Elinor Smith, Frank Hawks and Wiley Post. Ferrara noted that the six pilots were really good friends. "They had dinner at each other's houses," he said.
During its five years, Curtiss hosted numerous air shows. These shows featured stunt flying, parachute jumpers, wing walking and aerial tricks. Ferrara noted that for the parachute jumps, the pilot was paid $100 and the jumper was also paid $100. The pilot would get the full $200 if the jumper didn't survive.
Ferrara said if it was a nice day, the crowds would be anywhere from 1,000 to 10,000 people for the Curtiss Field air shows. "They had hundreds of shows there," Ferrara said. "It was the greatest show in the world at that time to see airplanes."
All of those world famous pilots participated in the shows. "That's where the money was," Ferrara said. "Curtiss Airfield paid the most. They were all poor; Lindbergh was the only one with money."
The Columbia Aircraft Company was formed at Curtiss in 1929 and airplane production began in Valley Stream. Though the airfield closed in December 1933, the property still remained connected to the aviation industry with the building of planes on site.
Gabe Parrish, vice president of the historical society, joined Columbia Aircraft in 1942 on the wing assembly line. He eventually became the lead man for wing production when Columbia was producing the Grumman-designed J-2F6. "It was known as 'The Duck' because it was an amphibian landing on water or land," Parrish said.
He said another plane he helped assemble was the XJL-1. Two of those planes were made in Valley Stream and Parrish said both are still in existence today. One is at the Pima Air and Space Museum in Arizona and the other is owned by the R.W. Martin corporation in California. "One has had flight time in recent years," Parrish said.
In 1946, Commonwealth Aircraft bought the property and built commercial planes there. The company moved its operations to Kansas the following year, ending airplane production in Valley Stream. Green Acres Mall opened in 1956.
Efforts to remember
Ferrara is seeking to have a historical marker placed in front of Home Depot to mark the site of the former Curtiss Airfield. He recently appeared before the Town of Hempstead's Landmarks Preservation Commission.
Amy Strawgate, the building department's liaison to the group, said that a public hearing will soon be set before the Landmarks Preservation Commission for people to speak out for against the proposed sign. If the commission rules favorably, a recommendation will then be made to the town board and another public hearing scheduled.
Strawgate said that the Landmarks Preservation Commission would determine the wording of the sign, and could accept Ferrara's suggestion if it is found to be completely accurate.
She said it is evident Ferrara has done his homework. "He presented quite a lot of good information on it," she said, but could not elaborate on how she thinks the commission will rule.
Parrish said he looks forward to seeing a marker put up outside of Home Depot. He noted that the company has been helpful in the past, paying for a crane to remove a 6-foot by 9-foot, 6,100 pound emblem that was on one of the hangars it demolished to make room for the store.
"We have a little memento," Parrish said, adding that it is now kept in the backyard of the Pagan-Fletcher Restoration on Hendrickson Avenue. He also said the house contains models and photos of the planes that were built by Columbia in Valley Stream.
Ferrara said that Curtiss Airfield Day will be celebrated on Oct. 17. He said he is looking to invite the descendants of those famous pilots to participate in the festivities which will include a parade.
Comments about this story? AHackmack@liherald.com or (516) 569-4000 ext. 265.
