Cradle of Aviation Archives: The 1918 Curtiss Engineering Corporation Flying Map of Long Island
Here is one of the most unique maps ever posted on VanderbiltCupRaces.com- a 1918 Long Island map from the Curtiss Engineering Corporation as a guide for pilots to identify airfields and emergency landing areas.
The Long Island Motor Parkway is shown from Winchester Boulevard to Lake Ronkonkoma. The map is courtesy of the Cradle of Aviation.
Can any pilots provide insights into this historic Long Island map?
Enjoy,
Howard Kroplick
Close-Ups
The western terminus of the Motor Parkway in 1918 was located at "Creedmoor" (under the "E" of The).
Possible Queens landing areas were: Parade Grounds, Gravesend Track & Field and Belmont Race Track Field.
The Curtiss Engineering Corporation in Garden City was highlighted by the arrow.
Possible landing areas were: Field #2, Field #3, Hazelhurst Aviation Field, LWF Field, Piping Rock Club Landing Field, Troop C Field, Babylon Nursery and Sperry Field.
Possible landing fields were Bayshore Naval Station Landing Field and Sayville Field.
Comments
The “Belmont Race Track Field” is just west of my house which has Belmont Park on two sides as a neighbor. The Field mentioned is now the north parking lot that has the LIRR tracks along its north edge. The circle with the + sign in it ( to the right of Queens Village station) is the location of the Bellerose train station ( Nassau County) . The north parking lot before it was paved was a grass field with hurdles in it back in the 1950s as it had been since the track was opened in 1907. ( a large section of that grass field that was part of the track was given to the local school district in 1953 for a playground) There are many 3 story white oak trees that are 150+ years old in the track next to my house located in the Village of Floral Park . A very very quiet neighborhood in the west end of the village ( my family settled here in1924) that has some eccentric fellow as the village historian for decades who drives around in a 1930 Packard touring car or if he wants to be more modern a 1940 Buick 4 door convertible. The Mayor and the trustees of the village put up with him.
Hazelhurst Field #1 would become Roosevelt Field amd Hazelhurst Field #2 adjacent to Camp Mills would become Mitchel Field.
What area today would Field #3 be in? Looks like it was in the vicinity of Uniondale (aka, East Hempstead’).
Field #3 is a real mystery.
All the other designations make sense and, as you note, correspond to actual airports.
But a third in the area? Never heard of it.
Vintage race car enthusiasts should note “Sheepshead Bay Track Landing Field” in Brooklyn. According to Wikipedia it was an active race track until 1919
I have some period photographs of cars at the Sheepshead Bay race track in my collection someplace. If I can find the time I will look for them. There was also an excellent article on that track in a car magazine back in the 1960s that was edited by Herbert Lozier who lived in Brooklyn and was also a master model car builder ( scratch built) and wrote a book on Mercedes as well. That magazine only had three issues before it “failed to proceed” any further. Sheepshead Bay I believe was a board track with banked curves all supported on poured concrete forms.
A 1926 view of the area where Field 3 is shown below.
Nice find, Brian!
Hi Walt, I like the mention of the eccentric fellow and his cars. Must be a sight to see him drive by!