Bases – Miller Field

Miller Field was a United States Army Air Corps 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 Fighter Squadron in the Expeditionary Forces, 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.

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.

The Miller Army Air Field Historic District is now on the National Register of Historic Places.

History in the Making

June 22, 1924 -- FLIERS BROADCAST MESSAGES IN AIR; Army Airplane, Up 7,000 Feet, Heard Over a Stretch of 25 Miles. An army airplane flying at 7,000 feet successfully broadcast messages over a stretch of at least twenty-five miles yesterday, according to flight officers at Miller Field, New Dorp, Staten Island, the air base of the Twenty-seventh Division, National Guard. As soon as outlying stations were heard from in Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Long Island and up-State New York it was expected that the radius of reception would prove even greater. (New York Times)

June 29, 1924 -- PLANE AT AIR SHOW DIVES INTO HARBOR; Flier at 27th's New Dorp Meet Escapes With Minor Injuries. More than 10,000 spectators were at the aviation meet of the Twenty-seventh Division air forces at Miller Field, New Dorp. S. I., yesterday afternoon and saw a civilian aviator miraculously escape death when his plane dropped into the bay about 200 yards from shore after the engine had stopped in midair. (New York Times)

May 18, 1925 -- PLANE FALLS IN BAY; 1 FLIER DIES, 1 SAVED; Machine Hits Air Pocket and Plunges Nearly 1,000 Feet in View of Crowd. BOATS HURRY TO RESCUE Ex-Aviator, Diving, Frees Unconscious Guardsman Pinioned Under Water. PLANE FALLS IN BAY; 1 FLIER DIES, 1 SAVED. Two National Guard aviators, tangled in their wrecked plane when it crashed into New York Bay at dusk last evening, were rescued by policemen and a fellow flier, who dived repeatedly to free one of them. One was so badly hurt he died a few hours later. (New York Times)

June 20, 1925 -- PLANES WITH BOMBS IN BIG 'FIGHT' TODAY; Aided by Tanks, Fleet Will Attack Miller Field, Defended by Anti-Aircraft Guns. MANY THRILLS PROMISED Parachute Leaps and Speed Contests Also on Program of the National Guard Meet. One of the greatest aerial displays the city has over witnessed will be made today by the National Guard, at Miller Field, New Dorp, Staten Island. About 100 airplanes and seaplanes will participate in the program lasting from 7 A.M. until 7 P.M. (New York Times)

June 21, 1925 -- 142 PLANES PUT ON BIGGEST AIR CIRCUS EVER GIVEN HERE; 35,000 Persons at Miller Field Thrilled by Stunts and the Swarm in the Sky. TWO FLIERS SAVED AT SEA Jump With Parachutes, Then Wind Rises and Carries Them Off Island. RAIN FAILS TO HALT SHOW Breath-Taking Loops Near Earth Made Without Accident, but Two Fliers Crash on Way to Event. Thirty-five thousand persons encircled Miller Field on Staten Island yesterday and witnessed the evolutions of 142 airplanes, saw tanks engage sky-fighters in a realistic battle, and gasped as parachute jumpers dropped from rushing aircraft.(New York Times)

June 13, 1926 -- CITY WILL WITNESS SHAM BATTLE IN AIR; Defense Planes to Meet Invaders 3,000 Feet Over Times Square Next Saturday. RADIO TO DEPICT IT Stunts Will Advertise the 27th Division Air Meet, to Be Held the Following Week. Two squadrons of fighting airplanes will meet above this city next Saturday afternoon in a sham aerial battle as a preliminary to the air meet of the Twenty-seventh Division, New York National Guard, air forces, which will be held the following Saturday afternoon at Miller Field, Staten Island. (New York Times)

June 26, 1926 -- PLANES 'FIGHT' TODAY OVER MILLER FIELD; Sham Battle a Feature of Air Meet in Which Over 200 Craft Will Participate. BYRD IS EXPECTED TO FLY Listed to Give First Exhibition in Josephine Ford Since Return -- Many Races Are Planned. A huge air meet in which more than 200 Army, Navy, Marine Corps and civilian-owned airplanes will participate will be held today at Miller Field, Staten Island, under the auspices of the Air Service section of the Twenty-seventh Division, New York National Guard. (New York Times)

June 27, 1926 -- PLANES IN FOG THRILL CROWD AT AIR MEET; Josephine Ford Is Centre of Attention at Miller Field Exhibition. 100 OTHER CRAFT ON HAND Ruling Keeps Army Machines Out of Events -- Thousands Brave Rain -- Byrd There. PLANES IN FOG THRILL GROWD AT AIR MEET. Surrounded by more than a hundred other aircraft, the Josephine Ford, Fokker monoplane which recently cast the shadow of its wings upon the North Pole, featured the third annual air meet of the Twenty-seventh Division Air Service of the New York National Guard, held throughout yesterday at Miller Field, New Dorp, S. I. (New York Times)

Bases – Miller Field

History in the Making

Miller Field, Home of the 1st Aero Company

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