Cradle of Aviation Exhibit: Roosevelt Field Aviators at the Mall
Roosevelt Field Aviators: Exhibit will be on display at the Roosevelt Field® shopping center from through March 13th. The exhibit will incorporate eight large panels of historic photos from the museum’s archive celebrating the famous airfield, plus many of the brave and culturally diverse aviators that were photographed here in the 1920s and 1930s by local photographer John Drennan.
The exhibit is on the second floor near the Neiman-Marcus entrance.
Enjoy,
Howard Kroplick
Roosevelt Field Aviators
History
The years from the end of World War I until storm clouds once again darkened the horizon in World War II was an age of momentous progress for private aviation. During this Golden Age of aviation, Long Island, and especially Roosevelt Field, was the center of the aviation world. Fliers came from all over the country, indeed the world, just to fly or be seen here. The greatest aviators of the day made Roosevelt Field their home or port of call. Long Island aviation, and Roosevelt Field, in particular, was a unique place among American aeronautical centers. The many flying schools centered about Roosevelt Field eagerly accepted both women and minorities for flight training whereas most other aviation schools elsewhere in America did not. This gave Long Island aviation a surprising amount of cultural diversity among its aviators, most unique for this time.
Roosevelt Field Aviators - Exhibit and NFT Collection
The exhibit will feature an overview of the airfield’s history during the Golden Age of aviation in the 1920s and 1930s, and an NFT collection of aviators, from famous to unknown, who were photographed here at that time. These remarkable photographs are from the Drennan Collection in the museum’s archive and many have never been seen in public. NFTs are ‘Non-Fungible Tokens’ which are digital certificates of authenticity verified using blockchain technology. Proceeds from the sale of these NFTs will help fund the museum’s education and preservation programs.
An illustration of the Clinton Road Motor Parkway Bridge near the planned school of aviators.
Comments
About 30+ years ago The Long Island Early Fliers Club hung a restored Curtiss Jenny JN4 bi plane from the ceiling at the mall in the NE corner . We did this by bringing the plane into the building in sections ( wings, fuselage ) . and then hoisting the reassembled plane up in place. It remained there for a month or more. It was the first plane that Charles Lindbergh flew and George Dade of Glen Head got the pieces together and a crew to work on it and restore it over a period of years at his house. Fun time many years ago. I did not help restore it but was the first one there after the early morning ( 2 am) effort to hang it and man the display booth and answer questions about the plane. Most asked ” how the heck did you get a airplane inside here overnight” I told a few we used a lot of grease on the wings….........This was done on a clear and very very cold night in February with the wind blowing fairly strong. Lots of teeth chattering . Yes Long Island history meant a lot to me then and still does.
the plane is now in the cradle of aviation museum . Most of the members of the LI Early Fliers Club who restored it are now gone as well. Great guys like Danny Pflug, Andy Yelaney just to name a few.
Thanks for this. And yes, Walt - I share your views of the historical value of keeping LI history alive and even though I’ve relocated LI will always be near to me.
I used to fly. I’ll have to check it out ….when the rain stops
I lost an hour’s sleep last night thinking about this. I forgot to reply and let all know what a nifty display like that does for such a common drab mall that I rarely go to. All window dressers should see this wonderful showing of the history of the area mall stages and airport photos. All community leaders with empty stores in their towns should also be inspired to put up similar exhibits in their empty spaces. I especially enjoyed the blue and yellow overhead wing hanging Ironca model that I used to see as a youth at upstate Dutches County, Old Reinbeck Airport perform with a flying actor/aviator known then as Ace Spandau. It was also interesting that the name “Roosevelt Field” was not in tribute to either of the past presidents with that name but of Quentin Roosevelt the son of Theodore Roosevelt who trained at that field (Curtis Field) and then sadly lost his life in WWI when his plane was shot down in France. Keep up the good work!
BTW in you promo photo I thought the wing frames and ribs were the supports for the old store sign!!!