Additional information
| Country | American |
|---|---|
| Region | North American |
ArtistUS Army Photo
Artist YearsN/A
Artist NationalityAmerican
TitleBoeing-40 in Formation Over Staten Island
Year1922
MediumPhotography > Silver Gelatin
Dimensions10 X 14 inches
Catalog ReferenceN/A
Description
Official US Army, 102nd Photo Section, 7th Division, New York National Guard, showing 6 Boeing Model 40s in stacked echelon formation over Staten Island, New York.
ProvenanceN/A
NotesMiller Field was a United States Army facility in the neighborhood of New Dorp, Staten Island, New York. It was founded in November 1919 and completed in 1921. It was named after Captain James Ely Miller (1883–1918), commanding officer of the 95th Aero Squadron in the Air Service of the AEF, who died in combat on March 9, 1918, over Rheims in World War I. He was the first United States aviator killed in action while serving with an American military aviation unit. Before World War I, Miller had been vice president of the Columbia Trust Company of New York and manager of its Fifth Avenue office, who trained at his own expense to earn his pilot's license and Reserve Military Aviator rating with the Governors Island Training Corps in 1916. He was also an organizer, along with Major Raynal Bolling, of the 1st Reserve Aero Squadron, the first unit of what would eventually become the Air Force Reserve Command.
When built in 1921, 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 anti-aircraft fire and training Coast Guard personnel. Miller Field closed as an airbase in 1969. US Army 11th Special Forces Reserve was stationed at Miller Field from March 22, 1963, to August 1, 1970.
The Field was the site of the Elm Tree Beacon Light, a lighthouse from 1856 through 1924 when it was abandoned (and later rebuilt). The light had replaced a prominent elm tree.
The Miller Army Air Field Historic District was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1980.
(source: wikipedia.org)