The history of Brooklyn Airport’s construction is quite a mixed bag. At first, there was a strong desire to build it, and it was built, but later, it lost its significance and was almost forgotten. Here’s how it happened: For a long time, New York found itself in a rather strange situation—a city accustomed to being first in everything was, for some reason, unable to establish its own proper airport. Passengers flew, planes landed—but somewhere outside of New York, for example, at Newark Airport, in the neighboring state of New Jersey.
And it almost seemed like a joke that had gone on too long. It was clear that this couldn’t go on for long. Having its own airport wasn’t just a desire but a matter of reputation—and timing. And that time came in the 1930s, when New York finally decided, “Enough of flying ‘somewhere nearby’; it was time to play by its own rules.” You can read more about this story and the role Brooklyn played in it at i-brooklyn.com.
The Founding and the “Golden Age”
When Floyd Bennett Field opened in 1931, it seemed like a real breakthrough. New York City had finally gotten its own airport—modern, ambitious, and, as it seemed at the time, with a bright future. It wasn’t built “on the fly”: smooth concrete runways, a spacious terminal, large hangars—all state-of-the-art for the aviation industry of the time.
Admittedly, the location chosen for this “future” was rather unusual. They were talking about an area on the outskirts of Brooklyn—Barren Island—which at the time was more of a swampy, undevelopable stretch of land than a promising site for a major infrastructure project. But that was precisely the deciding factor: the land was cheap, which meant they could build without unnecessary restrictions.
Actually, the airport didn’t just appear out of nowhere—it was literally “carved out” of the natural landscape. The area was persistently drained, covered with mountains of sand, and leveled until the swamp finally “agreed” to become a decent airfield. All of this was accomplished in a rather short timeframe: the main work took place in the late 1920s, and by the early 1930s, the facility was ready to welcome guests.
What’s more, the project attracted people with a deep understanding of aviation, which gave it a special sense of grandeur: the airport wasn’t built merely by staid engineers with their rulers, but by those who, at the very least, knew what the sky looked like beyond an office window. One such person was the famous aviator Clarence D. Chamberlin—rumor has it that he took an active part in the project.
What’s more, the airport quickly became a place where history was made. It was here that aviation records were set, experimental flights took off, and the area surrounding the runways was more like a laboratory of the future than just a transportation hub. In a sense, it was a showcase of New York’s aviation ambitions.
But there is one caveat without which this “golden age” seems too perfect.
Despite its modernity and scale, Floyd Bennett Field never became a full-fledged hub for regular passenger service. The reason is quite prosaic: the airport did not secure airmail contracts. Today this doesn’t sound so critical, but in the 1930s, it was the mail service that effectively determined where life would thrive and where there would be nothing but beautiful runways.
The result was a paradoxical situation: the airport existed, was operational, and was the talk of the town—yet it never saw a real influx of passengers or flights. It was a “golden age” marked by plenty of symbolism and far less substance. And, as we’ll see shortly, that wasn’t enough.
Why Floyd Bennett Field Lost
It would seem that Floyd Bennett Field had everything it needed to become New York’s main airport: modern infrastructure, ambition, public attention, and even its own “golden age.” But, as is often the case, it wasn’t technology or scale that made the difference. It was simply convenience.
The airport turned out to be simply inconvenient. It was located on the outskirts of Brooklyn, and getting there was much more difficult than one would have liked—especially for passengers from Manhattan, who, in fact, made up the bulk of the demand. Back then, speed was just as important as it is today, but it wasn’t just about the planes—it was also about how quickly you could get to them.
And then LaGuardia Airport entered the picture, which opened in 1939. It was closer, more accessible, and fit much better into the city’s infrastructure. In fact, it served the same purpose as Floyd Bennett Field but was simply more convenient.
Against this backdrop, the advantages of the Brooklyn airport began to seem less compelling. Passengers chose the easier option, airlines went where the traffic was, and businesses went where the money was. And gradually, the center of New York’s aviation industry shifted.
The icing on the cake in this story was New York City Mayor Fiorello LaGuardia himself. Rumor has it that he once flew in from Chicago with a ticket to New York. When the plane landed at Newark Airport, the mayor refused to get off, insisting that he had a ticket specifically to New York—and that was exactly where he should be taken.
The pilots had to take off again and fly over the Hudson River to finally drop the mayor off in “the Big Apple.” That day, LaGuardia reportedly became fully convinced: the city needed an airport that didn’t require traveling through “a thousand miles” to reach. The irony is that Floyd Bennett Field didn’t meet that criterion—which is why the city got another, closer airport. That’s how LaGuardia Airport came to be, which ultimately “swallowed up” the Brooklyn giant.
Floyd Bennett Field wasn’t closed right away; they didn’t “pull the plug” on it overnight. It continued to operate for some time, handling flights. But the crucial thing had already happened—it had lost out to the competition.
And, ironically enough, he didn’t lose because he was worse. He lost because he was in the wrong place.
World War II
After losing its status as the primary civilian airport, Floyd Bennett Field found a new purpose in a different role—a military one. In 1941, on the eve of the United States’ entry into World War II, the territory was transferred to the control of the Navy. And this was a logical decision, since the spacious base, large runways, and advantageous coastal location were ideally suited to the military’s needs.
During the war, the airport became a major hub for military aviation. It served as a training ground for pilots, housed aviation units, and conducted patrol missions—in particular, anti-submarine operations in the coastal waters of the Atlantic. The runways, which until recently had hosted experimental civilian flights, were now used for regular military operations and the training of aviation personnel.
During this period, Floyd Bennett Field became part of New York’s broader military infrastructure. Its role was no longer public or “spectacular”—on the contrary, it operated quietly and methodically, supporting the needs of the front lines. After the war ended, the base remained at the disposal of the military for some time as a reserve and training facility, gradually losing its active role but never completely disappearing from the city’s map.
Decline and Transformation
After the end of the war period, Floyd Bennett Field gradually lost its strategic importance. In the 1970s, the base was finally decommissioned, and the site was transferred to the National Park Service. Since then, the former airport has taken on a new lease on life—now as part of a recreational area.
Today, the old hangars and runways remain here and are used for limited purposes, specifically, operational and training purposes. However, the main role of this place is no longer in transportation, but in memory—as a reminder of the ambitions of New York, and with it Brooklyn, and of how even large-scale infrastructure projects can change their purpose over time.
Sources:
- https://www.nps.gov/gate/learn/historyculture/fbf.htm
- https://metroairportnews.com/floyd-bennett-field-new-yorks-first-airport/
- https://cgaviationhistory.org/1938-coast-guard-air-station-brooklyn-established/
- https://www.adirondackexplorer.org/communities/history/floyd-bennett-a-local-aviation-legend/