An East Meadow-native is helping preserve the history of one of Long Island’s most significant aviation sites through his book documenting the people and events that shaped Mitchel Field in Uniondale.
“Faces From Mitchel Field, Portraits and Stories 1917-1961: Forgotten Eagles,” by Paul R. Martin III, explores the 44-year history of the legendary Hempstead Plains airfield, from World War I through its closure in 1961. A major U.S. Army and Air Force Base, directly adjacent to East Meadow, the complex is home to the Cradle of Aviation Museum and other recreational facilities.
Martin, a historical artist and retired art teacher who now lives with his family in Yorktown Heights, was born and raised in East Meadow. His connection to Mitchel Field began as a child, when he and his friends rode their bicycles there before they were old enough to drive.
“I started writing about 10 years ago, right after I retired,” Martin said. “I was surprised to find out how important and how significant it was.”
The book is the culmination of a lifetime of research, he said.
It is thoroughly illustrated with photographs from the Cradle of Aviation Museum’s archives in Garden City, as well as public and private collections, it draws on newspapers, military and government records, letters, diaries, interviews and other sources.
Rather than simply presenting a chronological history of the airfield, Martin tells its story through the lives of 38 aviation pioneers and other figures who served there, lived there or whose careers were shaped by the field.
“Each chapter is a separate story about a person or persons who served there,” Martin said. “But it’s really telling the history of the field through the people.”
The book is divided into five sections covering the early “Cradle of Aviation” period from 1908 to 1917, World War I, the years between the wars, World War II and the postwar era. A significant focus is placed on the World War II years.
Joshua Stoff, curator of the Cradle of Aviation Museum, assisted Martin with research.
“He’s kind of the unofficial Mitchel Field historian, and he’s really knowledgeable on it,” Stoff said.
Stoff said Martin has spent decades documenting the field, including its aviation crashes, important figures and individual events.
“He leaves no stone unturned,” Stoff said. “He’s really trying to preserve the legacy and document it and pass it on for future generations to show what happened here and how important it was.”
Martin said connecting with the families of those featured in the book was among the most rewarding parts of his research. Descendants entrusted him with photographs, letters and other materials to help tell their relatives’ stories.
“I feel I’m keeping their memories alive so that they’re not forgotten, and that was kind of really the impetus for the book,” Martin said.
Gary Monti, a former director of museum operations at the Cradle of Aviation Museum who collaborated with Martin and wrote the book’s introduction, said the project underscores Long Island’s place in aviation history.
“Long Island’s role in aviation was monumental,” Monti said.
Martin hopes the book will encourage residents to recognize the history surrounding them.
“People don’t realize, you know, when people drive past Hempstead Turnpike and drive past Mitchel Field, they don’t realize or appreciate the sacrifices that took place there for the freedoms that we enjoy today,” he said.
The nonfiction book is available at the Cradle of Aviation Museum and on Amazon.
For those interested in learning more about the book and Martin’s work, he will discuss it during an Author Visit & Discussion with Westbury’s Historical Society on Saturday, Oct. 3, from 1 to 2 p.m. at the Westbury Memorial Public Library. Registration is required through the Westbury library’s website. Visit WestburyLibrary.org for more information.
