Historic Miller Field, Staten Island, NY

Updated: April 6, 2007

Introduction:
Welcome to the Historic Miller Field web site. This is an on-line historic archive of photos, stories, and technical information about the aircraft, people and events that were part of this now abandoned airfield in the New Dorp section of Staten Island, New York. The 187 acre site is now a park and part of Gateway National Recreation Area.

Miller Field is Established:
In November 1919, a new Army Air Field was constructed in the New Dorp section of Staten Island, New York. The farm of William H. Vanderbilt was selected as the site and later named Miller Field in honor of Captain James Ely Miller, an American airman killed in France during World War I. Miller was the Commander of the 95th Squadron and was shot down by German fighters on March 10, 1918 over German territory in the Rheims sector. It took 20 months to complete the construction of the airport on the site of the Vanderbilt farm, and cost $1,350,000.

When completed in July of 1921, Miller Field was the only Air Service Coast Defense Station on the East Coast, its principle mission being to assist the Coast Artillery in the defense of New York Harbor (Crissy Field in San Francisco performed the same function in California). In addition to the sod runway, and seaplane ramps, the field also included four hangars.

Throughout the years, Miller Field served as an Army Air Field, a training base, a Coast Artillery gun site, a Nike Missile Repair Depot, and a US Army Special Forces base. Please click on the links at the top or bottom of this page to learn more about Historic Miller Field.

July 25, 1925: The 1st Division Tank Company at Miller Field.

Where is Miller Field:
Miller Field is located in the New Dorp section of Staten Island, NY. Take Hylan Blvd to New Dorp Lane, or take the S76 bus to the entrance of Miller Field.

Map of Staten Island

What is left to see at Miller Field:
In addition to the recently added baseball fields, a few old hangars, a WW2 Coast Artillery Fire Control tower, and a few bits of paved ramp areas are all that remain today of Historic Miller Field.

Aerial Photo of Miller Field

Photo Courtesy of Paul Freeman.

Contact us:
Can you help us with our research on the history of Miller Field? Do you have any old photos, documents, or stories about your experiences at the field? Please contact us at fort_tilden@hotmail.com

This is not a National Park Service web site. We are a group of local history enthusiasts, supporting the park through historic research. If you wish to contact the park personnel at Gateway, please call the following numbers:

Miller Field, Staten Island, NY: 718-351-6970
Fort Wadsworth, Staten Island, NY: 718-354-4500
Floyd Bennett Field, Brooklyn, NY: 718-338-3799
Fort Tilden, Rockaway, NY: 718-318-4300
Fort Hancock, Sandy Hook, NJ: 732-872-5970

If you would like to donate any items to the park related to Miller Field. Contact Felice S. Ciccione, Chief Curator, Phone Number: (718) 354-4537 E:Mail Address: Felice_Ciccione@nps.gov

Learn more about the other historic former military bases of Gateway National Recreation Area:
"Historic Fort Tilden " The Defender of New York City from 1917-1974!
"Historic Floyd Bennett Field " Brooklyn's famous airfield and the former NAS New York!
"Jaytee's Floyd Bennett Field Website " A nice collection of vintage photographs.
"The Floyd Bennett Field Task Force " Focuses on NAS New York during World War 2!
"Historic Fort Hancock " A fantastic Coast Artillery post at Sandy Hook, NJ!
"Historic Fort Wadsworth" (Coming Soon!)