.gif)
Miller Field (Staten Island)
Encyclopedia
Miller Field was a United States Air Force
facility on Staten Island
, New York
, in New Dorp. It was founded in November 1919 and completed in 1921. It was named after James Ely Miller, a captain of the 95th Aero Squadron in the Air Force, who died in combat on March 10, 1918 over Rheims in World War I
and was the first United States aviator killed in the war that was serving with an American military aviation unit.
When built, Miller Field was the only coastal defense air station in the eastern United States and was part of the network of fortifications around New York City. It was built on land formerly belonging to the Vanderbilt family
.
It had a grass runway
(and was the last airport with a grass runway in New York City
), ramps for seaplanes, and four hangars for planes. Miller Field was used for antiaircraft fire and training Coast Guard
personnel. Miller Field closed as an airbase in 1969, and is now part of the Gateway National Recreation Area
.
The Field was the site of the Elm Tree Beacon Light
, a lighthouse from the 19th century through 1924 when it was abandoned. The light had replaced a landmark elm tree.
On December 16, 1960 a United Airlines
Douglas DC-8
and a Trans World Airlines
Lockheed Super Constellation collided just west of the field with the Constellation crashing into the northwest corner of the airport while the DC8 crashed into Park Slope Brooklyn. 135 were killed. The 1960 New York air disaster
was the worst airline disaster to that point.
The Miller Army Air Field Historic District is now on the National Register of Historic Places
.
Currently the field is also in use as a local park, with baseball and soccer fields. It hosts the Staten Island Philharmonic Orchestra in the summer. The field is directly east of New Dorp High School
.
United States Air Force
The United States Air Force is the aerial warfare service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the American uniformed services. Initially part of the United States Army, the USAF was formed as a separate branch of the military on September 18, 1947 under the National Security Act of...
facility on Staten Island
Staten Island
Staten Island is a borough of New York City, New York, United States, located in the southwest part of the city. Staten Island is separated from New Jersey by the Arthur Kill and the Kill Van Kull, and from the rest of New York by New York Bay...
, 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...
, in New Dorp. It was founded in November 1919 and completed in 1921. It was named after James Ely Miller, a captain of the 95th Aero Squadron in the Air Force, who died in combat on March 10, 1918 over Rheims in 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...
and was the first United States aviator killed in the war that was serving with an American military aviation unit.
When built, Miller Field was the only coastal defense air station in the eastern United States and was part of the network of fortifications around New York City. It was built on land formerly belonging to the Vanderbilt family
Vanderbilt family
The Vanderbilt family is an American family of Dutch origin prominent during the Gilded Age. It started off with the shipping and railroad empires of Cornelius Vanderbilt, and expanded into various other areas of industry and philanthropy...
.
It had a grass runway
Runway
According to ICAO a runway is a "defined rectangular area on a land aerodrome prepared for the landing and take-off of aircraft." Runways may be a man-made surface or a natural surface .- Orientation and dimensions :Runways are named by a number between 01 and 36, which is generally one tenth...
(and was the last airport with a grass runway in New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
), ramps for seaplanes, and four hangars for planes. Miller Field was used for antiaircraft fire and training Coast Guard
Coast guard
A coast guard or coastguard is a national organization responsible for various services at sea. However the term implies widely different responsibilities in different countries, from being a heavily armed military force with customs and security duties to being a volunteer organization tasked with...
personnel. Miller Field closed as an airbase in 1969, and is now part of the Gateway National Recreation Area
Gateway National Recreation Area
Gateway National Recreation Area is a National Recreation Area in the Port of New York and New Jersey. Scattered over Brooklyn, Queens, and Staten Island, New York and Monmouth County, New Jersey, it provides recreational opportunities that are rare for a dense urban environment, including ocean...
.
The Field was the site of the Elm Tree Beacon Light
Elm Tree Beacon Light
Elm Tree Beacon Light served as the front range with New Dorp Light as the rear to mark Swash Channel. The channel is now marked by Staten Island Light and West Bank Light....
, a lighthouse from the 19th century through 1924 when it was abandoned. The light had replaced a landmark elm tree.
On December 16, 1960 a United Airlines
United Airlines
United Air Lines, Inc., is the world's largest airline with 86,852 employees United Air Lines, Inc., is the world's largest airline with 86,852 employees United Air Lines, Inc., is the world's largest airline with 86,852 employees (which includes the entire holding company United Continental...
Douglas DC-8
Douglas DC-8
The Douglas DC-8 is a four-engined narrow-body passenger commercial jet airliner, manufactured from 1958 to 1972 by the Douglas Aircraft Company...
and a Trans World Airlines
Trans World Airlines
Trans World Airlines was an American airline that existed from 1925 until it was bought out by and merged with American Airlines in 2001. It was a major domestic airline in the United States and the main U.S.-based competitor of Pan American World Airways on intercontinental routes from 1946...
Lockheed Super Constellation collided just west of the field with the Constellation crashing into the northwest corner of the airport while the DC8 crashed into Park Slope Brooklyn. 135 were killed. The 1960 New York air disaster
1960 New York air disaster
The 1960 New York air disaster, also known as the Park Slope Plane Crash, was a collision on December 16, 1960, between two airliners, United Airlines Flight 826 and Trans World Airlines Flight 266 over New York City, in which Flight 266 crashed into Staten Island and 826 into Park Slope, Brooklyn...
was the worst airline disaster to that point.
The Miller Army Air Field Historic District is now on the National Register of Historic Places
National Register of Historic Places
The National Register of Historic Places is the United States government's official list of districts, sites, buildings, structures, and objects deemed worthy of preservation...
.
Currently the field is also in use as a local park, with baseball and soccer fields. It hosts the Staten Island Philharmonic Orchestra in the summer. The field is directly east of New Dorp High School
New Dorp High School
New Dorp High School, administered by the New York City Department of Education, is a public school located on the East Shore of the New York City borough of Staten Island in the New Dorp neighborhood. The school is located at 465 New Dorp Lane next to Miller Field, an army airport turned park,...
.