Mitchel Field
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Roosevelt Field

Roosevelt Field and the Aviation History of the Hempstead Plains

​Long Island, NY 1776 -1961

Camps and the Cradle of Aviation

The Hempstead Plains
One of the few natural prairies east of the Allegheny Mountains
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The Hempstead Plains

American Revolution:  used as an Army enlistment center.
War of 1812 and Mexican War: It was a training center for Infantry units.
American Civil War : It was the location of Camp Winfield Scott. 
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Early 1900s - Before WWI

The expansive open and treeless fields of the Hempstead Plains lures daredevils
and early aviation pioneers who embrace the new Aero plane.  Thus earning the area
nickname “The Cradle of Aviation”!
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Harriet Quimby, a journalist-turned-aviator,
received Aero Club of America license # 37
becoming the first licensed woman pilot
in the United States.
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​Matilde Moisant was the second
woman
in the United States to receive a pilot's license.
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Harriet Quimby And Matilde Moisant

Hempstead Plains Aerodrome

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The first Airmail flight, made by Earle Ovington in U.S. Mail Aeroplane No. 1,
during Second International Air Meet at Nassau Boulevard Field.

World War I Aviation:

Hazelhurst Field #1

​Camp Mills was later re-designated as the Air Service Depot from October 1918
to April 1919 when it was consolidated with Hazelhurst Field.
​Hazelhurst Field,  N. Y. :
Originally called the Hempstead Plains Aerodrome, or  Hempstead Plains field or the Garden City Aerodrome, Mineola Field,  it was a training field for the Air Service, United States Army during World War I as a temporary flying field under lease, located on the Hempstead Plains at Mineola, Long Island. The field was also known as aviation Field No. 1
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The field was named in honor of 2d Lt. Leighton W. Hazelhurst, Jr., 17th Inf., who was killed in an aviation accident, June 11,1912. Established, June 1916 on property previously used by New York National Guard as an aviation field. 
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Flying started June 1916 with capacity of 50 students from junior officers of the line detailed to Aviation Section, Signal Corps,  Served as training field until July 9, 1918, when placed under jurisdiction of Operations Section, Department of Military Aeronautics. Additional construction began July 26, 1917. 
From June 7, 1918 to Feb. 7, 1919, referred to as Headquarters First Provisional Wing or Headquarters First Reserve Wing.

The Wing controlled all flying fields on Long Island ; its principal function, aside from the defense of New York City, was the training of squadrons as units for oversea duty and development of team work in advanced flying. Used as reception center for Air Service recruits. Flying ‘School. Supply Depot.
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Hazelhurst Field #2

In 1917, Hazelhurst Field #2 was established south of, and adjacent to Hazelhurst Field to serve as an additional training and storage base, part of the massive Air Service Aviation Concentration Center. 
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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 Hazelhurst Field #1 and Field #2 in 1918 in order to meet this rapid expansion.

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Lieut Lawrence William Curtin
BIRTH 1898
DEATH 14 Aug 1936 (aged 37–38)
Panama
BURIAL Saint John Lutheran Cemetery
Beardstown, Cass County, Illinois, USA 
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  • Home
  • 5th Squadron Memorial
  • Period Photos
  • Walk Around 2020
  • Postcards
  • Modern Photos
  • NCO Quarters Murals
  • Aerial Views
    • Then & Now Aerial with Overlay
    • Maps
  • Santini
  • Armed Forces Days
  • Mitchel Field Band
  • Artifacts, relics and memoribilia
  • John Purroy Mitchel
  • Mitchel/Selfridge
  • Contact
  • Links
  • Videos
  • NRHP Registration
  • Crashes & Accidents Index
    • Crashes 17-29
    • Crashes 30s
    • Crashes 40
    • Crashes 41
    • Crashes 41B
    • Crashes 42
    • Crashes 42 B
    • Crashes 43
    • Crashes 43B
    • Crashes 44
    • Crashes 45
    • Crashes 46-47
    • Crashes 48-49
    • Crashes 50-55
    • Crashes 56-61
  • AAF Convalescent Home
  • Air Corps News Letter (ACNL)
    • ACNL 1929
    • ACNL 1930
    • ACNL 1931
    • ACNL 1932
    • ACNL 1933
    • ACNL 1934
    • ACNL 1935
    • ACNL 1936
    • ACNL 1937
    • ACNL 1938
    • ACNL 1939
    • ACNL 1940
    • ACNL 1941
  • Commanding Officers
  • HempsteadPlains.com
  • Lancasters at Mitchel
  • Newspapers and Magazines
  • USO
  • Roosevelt Field
  • USO Jones Beach
  • USO Mitchel Field
  • USO Hempstead
  • Military Camps
  • Treason
  • AA & Ground Forces
  • Beneath the Shadow of Wings