Below we present some great old pictures of Mitchel Field when it was a working airfield. No known restrictions on images made by the U.
Mitchel Field, New York. Positions with the Thompson machine gun are practiced by members of the air base squadron. This lesson is known as "dry firing. Air Corps technicians must be expert in the handling of infantry weapons. Members of an airbase squadron learning to wage hand-to-hand combat with bayonets under the tutelage of Captain Clifford W. Vedder, squadron commander. On the rifle range members of the airbase squadron learn to fire the snubnose Thompson sub-machine gun.
The highest degree of proficiency in the use of these firearms is attained in the intensive training program. Camouflaged troops repel attack on half track carrying an x-ray portable field unit in a simulated battle test. The unit is set up in battlefront areas in a specially constructed dark-room tent.
This was a striking example of the range, mobility, and accuracy of modern aviation at the time. In Mitchel Field was the location of the Air Defense Command, a command charged with the mission of developing the air defense for cities, vital industrial areas, continental bases, and military facilities in the United States also known as the " Zone of the Interior ". Later, First Air Force , was given the responsibility for air defense planning and organization along the eastern seaboard Under its supervision an aircraft patrol system along the coast for observing shipping was placed into operation.
Mitchel Field was a major source of supply in initial garrisoning and defense of North Atlantic air bases in Newfoundland, Greenland, and Iceland. From the airfield the planning for the air defense of Nova Scotia and Newfoundland was conducted. Antisubmarine patrol missions along the Atlantic coast were carried out in by the Army Air Force Antisubmarine Command aircraft based at Mitchel. Tactical fighter groups and squadrons were formed at Mitchel to be trained at AAF Training Command bases mostly in the east and southeast before being deployed to the various overseas wartime theaters.
Additionally, thousands of Army Air Force personnel were processed through the base for overseas combat duty. In , the reserve mission was assigned to First Air Force , which was also headquartered at Mitchel. First Air Force became the command and control organization for supervising the training of the air reserve in 15 eastern states and the District of Columbia. Millikan's transcontinental speed record flight of 4 hours, 8 minutes set in an F on 2 January ended at Mitchel. With the reassignment of the th, Mitchel itself was subsequently closed on on 25 June The property was turned over to Nassau County for redevelopment.
Source for Major Commands and Major Units assigned: [13] [15] [16] [17] [18] [19] [20]. Military Wiki Explore. Popular pages. Project maintenance. Amongst other activities of the airfield prior to WWII was the hosting of the National Air Races where world speed records were set, and in October , Mitchel Field was the scene of the first airplane jumping contest in the nation. The first totally blind flight was performed at Mitchel Field on Sept.
Doolittle, an Army lieutenant at the time and soon to become a WWI hero. He became the first pilot to take off, fly a prescribed course and land with reference only to the instruments before him. Mitchel Field also served as a base from which the first demonstration of long-range aerial reconnaissance was made. In May , three Bs led by Lt. Curtiss Lemay flew miles out to sea and intercepted the Italian ocean liner Rex. This was a striking example of the range, mobility and accuracy of modern aviation at the time.
The command was charged with the mission of developing the air defense for cities, vital industrial areas, continental bases, and military facilities in the United States. Later, it was headquarters for the First Air Force, and given the responsibility for air defense planning and organization along the eastern seaboard. The airfield had its own hospital.
Across Hempstead Turnpike from the airfields was an area named Santini Sub Base, and no, a submarine base did not exist smack in the middle of Long Island. This was the typical military abbreviation of a subsidiary facility apart from the main base. Santini Hospital would provide medical services for newly transitioned injured into the United States. During W.
II, it would treat many of the airlifted wounded. The hospital was on the northwest corner of Merrick Avenue and Front Street. This hospital mainly treated overseas returnees, neurological wounds and convalescent-care; and was fully capable of providing all needed medical care. I went to work there one month before the Normandy Invasion, D-Day. As you might imagine, the litter cases were devastating. Men with no faces, only eyes looking up at you. Men without arms. A whole ward of men without any legs.
Tactical fighter groups and squadrons were formed at Mitchel to be trained at AAF Training Command bases mostly in the east and southeast before being deployed to the various overseas wartime theaters.
Additionally, thousands of Army Air Force personnel were processed through the base for overseas combat duty. By , Mitchel was relieved of the responsibility for defending New York City because of the many problems associated with operating tactical aircraft in an urban area.
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