Abandoned & Little-Known Airfields:
New York City, Staten Island
© 2002, © 2009 by Paul Freeman. Revised 4/12/09.
Miller AAF (revised 4/12/09) - Staten Island Airport (revised 4/12/09)
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Staten Island Airport, New Springville, NY
40.58 North / 74.17 West (South of Newark Airport, NJ)
Staten Island Airport, as depicted on the November 1942 Regional Aeronautical Chart (courtesy of Chris Kennedy).
At various times in the past century, Staten Island had a total of 4 airports.
One of them was Staten Island Airport,
located on the east side of Richmond Avenue, south of Richmond Hill Road.
Staten Island Airport was the largest privately owned airfield in the city, with more than 250 acres.
It was located just across the road from another former airport, Donovan-Hughes Airport.
According to a promotional brochure (circa 1950s?),
the development of Staten Island Airport was begun by Ed McCormick in 1935.
McCormick was a successful local businessman who flew his own Fairchild 24 & Republic Seabee,
and he would later become the operator of Staten Island airport.
The Staten Island Airport opened in 1941, which turned out to be a case of very bad timing.
With the United States' entry into the Second World War,
the newly-opened Staten Island Airport was ordered closed by the government "for the duration",
as was also the case at many other small civil airports along the East Coast during WW2.
However, the date of closure of the field may have been after 1942,
as "Staten Island" was still depicted as a commercial airport
on the November 1942 Regional Aeronautical Chart (courtesy of Chris Kennedy).
It was not depicted at all on the 1943 NY Sectional Chart (courtesy of Chris Kennedy) or
the 1945 NY Sectional Chart (courtesy of Norman Freed).
Staten Island Airport, along with 3 other airports on Staten Island (Richmond County Airport, Donovan Hughes Airport, and Miller Field),
as depicted on a 1947 USGS map.
Staten Island Airport was reopened at some point between 1945-49,
as it was depicted on the 1949 NY Sectional Chart (according to Chris Kennedy)
as having a 2,900' hard-surface runway.
An circa 1948 aerial view of Staten Island Airport
from a promotional brochure touting the field (courtesy of Ed Drury).
A young woman posing in front of a plane belonging to Fred Zurhmelan at Staten island Airport in 1950 (courtesy of Ed Drury).
According to pilot Ed Drury, the airfield served as home for several businesses,
including R.A. Martin Flying Service, Cousins Flying Service,
and Appointment Airlines (run by TV star Bill Cullen).
As described on the promotional brochure,
the airfield at Staten Island Airport consisted of
"two hard-surface runways with a gross load-limit of 45,000 lbs...
one running North/South for 3,000', the other Northwest/Southeast for 3,700'.
Five modern steel hangars accommodate both transient & permanent planes
in safe, clean, uncrowded conditions."
Apparently the western runway (the one parallel to Richmond Avenue) was not used for very long,
as pilot Ed Drury said it "was never in use in my time. It was shortened & ended at the end of the hangars.
The hangars became a farmers market & the aircraft were relegated to the northern end of the field."
Ed also adds that the runway was shortened to make room
for the drive-in theatre that was erected next to the airport.
The brochure touted the ability of the airport to provide convenient access to New York City,
being only "40 minutes to Times Square",
and being the NY airport which was "singularly free of crossing airline traffic".
The last photo which has been located showing the Staten Island Airport still open was a 1954 aerial view.
It depicted the airport as having a single paved northwest/southeast runway.
The majority of the former north/south runway was still intact,
but the southern end had been truncated by the construction of a drive-in movie theater.
A closeup from the 1954 aerial view of Staten Island Airport.
Two hangars were located on the west side of the field,
but only the northern hangar appeared to be used for aviation purposes.
Around the northern hangar were visible a total of 15 single-engine aircraft.
The Aerodromes table on the 1958 NY Sectional Chart (courtesy of Norman Freed)
described Staten Island Airport as having 2 runways,
with the primary being a 2,700' paved runway, but it also included the remark, "North/south runway closed."
Staten Island Airport, as depicted on the 1962 NY Local Aeronautical Chart (courtesy of Mike Keefe).
The runway length at Staten Island Airport had shrunk to only 2,000'
by the time of the 1963 NY Sectional Chart (according to Chris Kennedy).
Staten Island Airport closed in 1964.
According to pilot Ed Drury, after Ed McCormick died, his widow sold the field for $40,000.
Other sources indicate that the field closed after the operator lost his lease & the owner sold the land.
By the time of the 1965 NY Sectional Chart (courtesy of John Voss),
it was no longer depicted at all (not even as an abandoned airfield).
A 1966 aerial view of the site of Staten Island Airport showed that the 2 hangars remained intact.
A large building & parking lot had been built
over the southern end of the former north/south runway (just north of the drive-in movie theater).
A road cut through the middle of the former northwest/southeast runway, which was otherwise intact.
A 1970 aerial view showed that the 2 hangars had been removed at some point between 1966-70.,
along with the drive-in movie theater.
The site was otherwise basically unchanged from how it was depicted in 1966,
with the majority of the length of the 2 former runways still intact.
A 1980 aerial photo showed that a shopping center was built at some point between 1970-80,
erasing any remaining trace of the former Staten Island Airport.
As seen in a July 5, 2007 aerial photo, not a trace appears to remain of the former Staten Island Airport.
Ed Drury observed, "The site now contains a mall & 2 separate shopping centers.
Just behind the plot are unending condos & townhouses.
A far cry from the sleepy little airport."
See also: Staten Island Advance 12/26/99.
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Miller Army Airfield, New Dorp Beach, NY
40.57 North / 74.1 West (South of Newark Airport, NJ)
Miller Field, as depicted on the 1930 "Rand McNally Standard Map of NJ With Air Trails" (courtesy of Chris Kennedy).
This airfield is located on the shore of Staten Island, along Lower New York Bay.
According to an article in the 2/2009 issue of the Coast Defense Journal (courtesy of Ron Plante & Mark Berhow),
in 1919 a farm belonging to William Vanderbilt was selected as the location for an Army Air Service airfield,
its primary mission being to assist the Coast Artillery in the defense of New York Harbor.
Construction began in November 1919 of the field's 2 sod runways, seaplane ramps, and 4 hangars.
Miller Field was named after Capt. James Miller, commander of the 95th Aero Squadron,
who was shot down & killed by a German aircraft on March 10, 1918 over German-held territory in the Rheims sector.
Miller Field was completed in July 1921, after 20 months of construction costing $1,350,000,
yet was initially little used.
By October 1922, no Army Air Service personnel remained at the field.
In 1923, the NY National Guard's 102nd Observation Squadron moved from Long Island's Mitchel Field to Miller Field.
This unit, part of the 27th Division's Aviation section, remained at Miller Field through the 1930s.
Miller Field was the site of military air shows in the 1920s.
The National Defense Day Celebration, September 12, 1924,
included a mock air attack on nearby Fort Wadsworth using sacks of flour as simulated bombs.
On July 25, 1925, the Tank Company of the 1st Division arrived at Miller Field,
after 2 & a half months of intensive training at Camp Dix, NJ.
During the summer of 1928, Adm. Richard Byrd, the polar explorer, tested his Ford Trimotor named "Floyd Bennett" at Miller Field.
The earliest dated depiction of Miller Field which has been located
was on the 1930 "Rand McNally Standard Map of NJ With Air Trails" (courtesy of Chris Kennedy).
By 1931, the little-used Miller Field was being considered for sale as surplus.
In May 1931, Miller Field was included in the 53 military posts slated for abandonment & sale.
However, the field was retained as Headquarters of the Aviation Section of the 27th Division.
The 1934 Navy Aeronautical Chart (courtesy of Chris Kennedy)
depicted Miller Field as a rectangular field with an adjacent seaplane base.
A 1935 aerial view looking north at Miller Field (from the 2/2009 issue of the Coast Defense Journal, courtesy of Ron Plante & Mark Berhow).
The Airport Directory Company's 1937 Airports Directory (courtesy of Bob Rambo)
described Miller Field as consisting of a rectangular 2,800' x 1,600' sod landing area.
It was also described as having a seaplane harbor,
with "ramp & facilities for hauling seaplanes & amphibians ashore."
On October 15, 1940, the 102nd Observation Squadron was activated for federal service & moved to Fort McClellan, AL.
Miller Field's broad open area served as storage for trucks & other material awaiting shipment overseas during World War II.
The airfield was also the site for one of the anti-motor torpedo boat batteries covering the Narrows during the war,
as well as one of the many facilities holding Axis Prisoners Of War.
Miller Field evidently was not used as an airfield during WW2,
as no airfield at the site was depicted on the 1942 or 1944 Regional Aeronautical Charts (courtesy of Chris Kennedy),
or the 1945 NY Sectional Chart (courtesy of Norman Freed).
Miller Field, along with 3 other airports on Staten Island (Richmond County Airport, Donovan Hughes Airport, and Staten Island Airport),
as depicted on a 1947 USGS map.
Miller Field was apparently still closed as of 1950,
as no airfield at the site was depicted on the 1950 NY Sectional Chart (courtesy of Mike Keefe).
Miller AAF was apparently reopened at some point between 1950-52,
as "Miller (Army)" was once again depicted on the 1952 NY Sectional Chart (courtesy of Mike Keefe).
A 1954 aerial view depicted Miller Field as consisting of a rectangular grass airfield, with the 2 hangars at the southeast end.
The last photo which has been located showing aircraft at Miller Field was a 1954 aerial view.
It depicted a total of 15 light aircraft parked outside along the northern edge of the field.
Where these Civil Air Patrol aircraft?
Miller AAF was described by the as the Aerodromes table on the 1958 NY Sectional Chart (courtesy of Norman Freed)
as having 2 runways, with the primary being a 3,800' turf strip.
According to pilot Ed Drury,
during the latter years of Miller Field's active use it was opened to planes of the Civil Air Patrol.
Chris Christensen recalled, “In March of 1959 I was assigned to Fort Wadsworth.
I was sent to the Brigade Aviation Section on Miller Field to be their aircraft supply clerk.
That was a start of a 20-year Army aviation career built around helicopter maintenance.
Not much is written about the Active Army units & facilities that were located there.
There was the 1st Army Aircraft Field Maintenance Unit
which was primarily Department of the Army civilians who did higher-level of maintenance of both fixed-wing & rotary-wing aircraft.
There was the 52nd Artillery Brigade (Air Defense) Aviation Section who supported the mission of NYC metropolitan Nike sites.
It also supported & carried many dignitaries flying in & about NYC
including Nikita Krushchev at the time that he slammed his shoe down on the podium at the United Nations.
At that time there was nothing left at Miller AAF to show that it had supported any seaplane activity
and while I was there from 1959-62 I never heard of that.
It was not very well known in those days by those that worked there.
Our unit had 3 H-13s which had the large bubble over the cockpit & could carry 2 people including the pilot.
We also had 2 H-21C cargo helicopters.
Since most of our flights involved flying over water
someone decided that helicopters that did that should have floats on them... just in case.”
A circa 1960 photo by Chris Christensen of an Army Piasecki H-21C with deployed floats at Miller AAF.
An August 1960 photo by Chris Christensen of an Army Bell H-13 in front of the Miller hangars.
A circa 1960 photo by Chris Christensen of two Army Bell H-13s inside a flooded Miller hangar.
Note that the helicopter on the left has its skids submerged, whereas the helicopter on the right, being equipped with floats, is floating.
Chris recalled of the Miller flood: “What I remember is 2 hurricanes.
In both cases the area between the 2 hangars did flood
and that area did have high & low points in the concrete slabs
and there were drains out in the middle which I don't know where they drained to.
There was a lot of flooding all over the Island.”
Miller AAF was depicted on the 1960 Jeppesen Airway Manual (courtesy of Chris Kennedy)
as having 2 unpaved runways: a 2,100' Runway 12/30 & a 1,725' Runway 16/34,
as well as a helipad in between the 2 large hangars along the shoreline on the southeast corner of the field.
On December 16, 1960 a TWA Constellation headed to La Guardia
and a United DC-8 bound for Idlewild (JFK) collided over Staten Island.
The Connie came down in Miller Field, the DC-8 in Park Slope, Brooklyn.
There were no survivors.
Miller AAF, as depicted on the 1962 NY Local Aeronautical Chart (courtesy of Mike Keefe).
Chris Christensen recalled, “I don't remember any other aircraft there
except that Fort Wadsworth did have a flying club there with a couple of Piper observation-type aircraft from WW2,
and one Navion L-17 & a Cessna 126.
I know the two H-21s were turned in & were supposed to be replaced with two UH-1 Hueys.
I don't know that the replacements did ever come in.
I know the flying club Navion did have an engine failure after I left in 1962 & it fell in the drink off the end of the runway.
They supposedly tried to drag it out of the water & onto the beach but apparently put a chain around the tail & pulled the tail off.
I was in Germany when the picture of it in the water was posted I think on the front page of the Stars & Stripes.”
According to CAP Lt. Col. Henry Deutch, when the Governor's Island Airfield was closed (circa 1962-65),
“1st Army fixed-wing operations were transferred to Miller Army Airfield.”
With the dissolution of 1st Army Miller Army Airfield was primarily used for Reserve & National Guard training,
and as a base of operations for Civil Air Patrol units.
The 3 Civil Air Patrol Groups that conducted operations from Miller Army Air Field were:
Brooklyn Group, Manhattan Group, and Staten Island Group.”
Miller AAF was still depicted as an active airfield on the 1965 NY Sectional Chart (courtesy of John Voss).
It was described as having 2 turf runways, with the longest being 2,100',
but the remarks included, "Runway 16/34 emergency only."
The airfield also had its own control tower.
The last aircraft to use Miller Field were those of the National Guard & Reserve.
In its final years, Miller was the last grass airstrip within New York City.
Douglas Cox recalled, “It must have been in the late summer or early autumn of 1966
when I attended annual training at Miller AAF, as part of the 11th Special Forces Group (Army Reserve).
We stayed in tents pitched inside the long northern boundary line of the field.
The airfield was used as a drop zone for airborne (parachute) operations.
In the final week of the training period, we flew from Miller AAF to Otis AFB, MA,
for loading onto Albatross seaplanes, from which we parachuted into the White Mountains of NH.
The final week in the mountains made the sweltering in the tents at Miller AAF totally worthwhile.”
Miller AAF was not depicted at all on the March 1966 NY Sectional Chart (courtesy of Mike Keefe).
According to CAP Lt. Col. Henry Deutch, “Miller Army Air Field was an active airfield
until it was closed on June 30, 1970.
Closure was caused by the Defense Department transferring the property
to the National Park Service to be part of Gateway National Park.
The 3 Civil Air Patrol Groups that conducted operations from Miller Army Air Field were relocated as follows:
Brooklyn Group to Flushing Airport in Queens, Manhattan Group to Flushing Airport in Queens,
and Staten Island Group to Linden Airport in Linden, NJ.
The Defense Department tried to trade the site to developers,
but covenants on its use prevented this.”
In 1974, Miller Field became part of the newly established Gateway National Recreation Area.
“Miller Field” was still labeled on the 1989 USGS topo map,
but “towers” were the only details depicted on the field.
A 2003 aerial photo of Miller Field by Ed Drury.
"The lookout tower is visible near the beach.
The pilings to the right were a dock for seaplanes & army boats,
although the seaplane ramp was near the big hangars."
A 2003 photo by Ed Drury of a lookout tower which still stands along the shore at Miller AAF,
built as a submarine lookout position during WW2.
According to CAP Lt. Col. Henry Deutch, “The observation tower was built as an observation & fire control station
for the Coast Artillery at Fort Wadsworth.”
A hangar & a concrete ramp area remain intact,
on the southern corner of the property along the Bay.
A high school has been built on the northwest corner of the former airfield.
A 2004 photo by Tom Turner of the remaining hangars at Miller Field, along with the beacon tower (in the center).
A July 5, 2007 aerial view looking northwest at Miller AAF,
showing a 1,200' asphalt taxiway portion remains, extending to the northwest away from the ramp.
See also: Staten Island Advance 12/26/99.
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