Mitchel Air Force Base

Mitchel Air Force Base
Part of Air Defense Command
Located near: Uniondale, New York
Looking west in 1968, the airfield is mainly intact.
2006 USGS photo. The remains of runway 05/23 are visible in the center.
Mitchel AFB is located in New York
Mitchel AFB
Mitchel AFB
Coordinates40°43′32″N 73°35′42″W / 40.72556°N 73.59500°W / 40.72556; -73.59500
Site history
Built1917
In use1917–1961
Garrison information
Occupants
Mitchel Air Base and Flight Line
LocationRoughly Charles Lindbergh Blvd., Ellington Ave., East & West Rds., East Garden City, New York
Area108 acres (44 ha)
NRHP reference No.100002385
Added to NRHPMay 4, 2018
Mitchel Field
Summary
Opened1918 (1918)
ClosedJune 25, 1961 (1961-06-25)
Elevation AMSL85 ft / 26 m
Map
Runways
Direction Length Surface
ft m
5/23 6,700 1,737 Concrete
9/27 4,960 1,512 Concrete
12/30 5,142 1,567 Concrete
18/36 4,800 1,463 Concrete
Source: Airfields-Freeman.com [1]

Mitchel Air Force Base, also known as Mitchel Field, was a United States Air Force base located on the Hempstead Plains of Long Island, New York, United States. Established in 1918 as Hazelhurst Aviation Field #2, the facility was renamed later that year as Mitchel Field in honor of former New York City Mayor John Purroy Mitchel, who was killed while training for the Air Service in Louisiana.[2]

Decommissioned in 1961, Mitchel Field became a multi-use complex that is home to the Cradle of Aviation Museum, Nassau Coliseum, Mitchel Athletic Complex, Nassau Community College, Hofstra University, and Lockheed. In 2018 the surviving buildings and facilities were recognized as a historic district and listed on the National Register of Historic Places.[3]

  1. ^ Abandoned & Little-Known Airfields: New York, Central Long Island Archived 2007-12-21 at the Wayback Machine
  2. ^ "History of Mitchel Field, New York". Air Force Historical Research Agency. 1917–1943. p. 511.
  3. ^ "National Register of Historic Places actions for May 4, 2018". U.S. National Park Service. May 4, 2018. Retrieved May 14, 2018.