Hempstead Plains Aerodrome

This airfield, built in 1916, spanned about 1,000 acres. Clinton Road was to the west, Old Country Road to the north, and Merrick Ave to the east. In April 1911, Alfred Moisant established the Moisant Aviation School here.

The map below shows the future site of the Cemetery of the Holy Rood, established in the 1930s, where many Strauss family are buried. The Meadowbrook State Parkway, which runs through the aerodrome's land, was not built until the 1930s, so is not shown here.

In April 1917, when the United Stated entered World War I, the field was renamed to Hazelhurst Field. It was also known as aviation Field No. 1 and included included Field No. 2, later known as Mitchel Field. It was established in June 1916.

Civil engineer and aviator, Zoilo H. Garcia, designed the first aircraft in the Dominican Republic in 1911. He named it the Polyplane because of its three wings. He had it constructed on Long Island and flew it at Helpstead Plains Airfield.