Mitchel Air Force Base

Mitchel Air Force Base is a former air installation in East Garden City on Long Island, now preserved as a historic complex with numerous administrative and operational buildings from its military period. The site covers more than 100 acres and includes hangars, barracks, technical facilities, and residential quarters that reflect the physical layout of a major early 20th century military installation.

The installation opened in 1917 as Hazelhurst Aviation Field #2 and served as a training center for military pilots during World War I. After a period of heavy use during World War II, the base closed in 1961 and the grounds were subsequently redeveloped for civilian purposes.

The former military site takes its name from New York City mayor John Purroy Mitchel, who died in a training accident during World War I. Today the grounds host a mix of civilian facilities, including educational and business uses, while several original buildings from the military era remain in place.

The historic complex sits in Nassau County on Long Island and can be reached via public roads, with many areas now freely accessible. A walk through the grounds allows visitors to view the preserved military structures and their modern reuses up close.

In 1929, Jimmy Doolittle performed the first successfully documented blind flight in aviation history here, demonstrating the feasibility of instrument flying. This milestone marked a turning point in the development of commercial aviation and flight safety worldwide.