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Don Boyd | profile | all galleries >> Memories of Old Hialeah, Old Miami and Old South Florida Photo Galleries - largest non-Facebook collection on the internet >> Miami and Florida AVIATION Historical Photos Gallery - Airports, Airlines, Aircraft - All Years - click on image to view >> Glenn Curtiss Field, Miami Municipal Airport, Amelia Earhart Field Photo Gallery tree view | thumbnails | slideshow | map

Glenn Curtiss Field, Miami Municipal Airport, Amelia Earhart Field Photo Gallery

There are only two airports in this gallery despite all the names, and since they were immediately adjacent to each other I have combined them into one gallery:

Glenn Curtiss Field, later named Miami Municipal Airport, then named Navy Municipal and South Field #2 during World War II, then named Amelia Earhart Field in 1947. The City of Hialeah Police Department and a large UPS sorting facility now occupy the land where Amelia Earhart Field once was.

and

All-American Airport, then Miami International Master Field, then part of NAS Miami, then Marine Corps Air Station Miami, and then Master or Master's Field. Miami-Dade College North Campus now occupies most of the east half of Master's Field and private warehouse and businesses occupy the western half.

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1. Miami Municipal Airport was located at 25.88N/80.26W, which is on the east side of LeJeune Road (E. 8 Avenue in Hialeah, NW 42 Avenue in Dade County) and from E. 52 Street (NW 106 Street) to E. 65 Street (NW 119 Street). See the aerial photos with diagrams to show the airport's location.

The airport was originally built by famous aviation pioneer Glenn Curtiss, recipient of the first pilot's license in the USA, and was known as Glenn Curtiss Flying School and Glenn Curtiss Field. Curtiss had moved another training facility near downtown out to Northwest Dade County. The airport was served by general aviation, airmail flights, flying schools including Embry-Riddle's school, and scheduled passenger service. Curtiss donated the airport to the City of Miami in 1928 and the airport's name was changed to Miami Municipal Airport.

Sources state that the airport was served by Pan American Airways, Eastern Air Lines and National Airlines. Pan American moved their Miami Municipal operations to Pan American Field in 1932 where they had been operating since 1928 and Captain Rickenbacker moved the Eastern Air Lines passenger flights to the 36th Street Airport in 1934. National Air Lines began using Miami Municipal Airport in 1936 with flights to St. Petersburg, Florida.

Miami Municipal Airport hosted the All-American Aerial Maneuvers from 1929 to 1941. The airport had three hangars at one time, with one having the word "MIAMI" painted on the roof but one of the hangars burned down in April 1938.

During World War II, the Navy took over the airport and it was called South Field #2 and Navy Municipal and it served as an auxiliary field to NAS Miami "Mainside" at Opa-locka Airport, two + miles to the north. It had 296 acres and the longest of two runways was 3,600 feet. Enlisted personnel were housed at Master Field to the east and officers lived off the base or at the "Mainside" Bachelor Officers Quarters. Squadron VR-7 was commissioned by the Naval Air Transport Service in April 1943. VR-7 was composed of 226 officers and 800 enlisted members and they operated up to 27 Douglas R4D aircraft on routes to the Caribbean and South America from Miami. Pilot training was also held there and personnel transport flights operated there during the war. Also, the airport and Master's Field (South Field #1) to the east were connected by one taxiway that crossed over the Seaboard railroad tracks. The Navy released the airport back to civilian control in 1947.

On October 26, 1947, Miami Municipal Airport was renamed to Amelia Earhart Field in honor of the famous aviatrix stopping there on her ill-fated flight around the world in 1937. Sources report that the airfield was used for pilot training purposes by airline flight crews doing touch and goes with prop airliners on short hops from Miami International Airport to the south in the mid 50's. The airport closed sometime thereafter and drag races were held there in the late 1950's and early 1960's. The land is now occupied by the City of Hialeah Police Department and other city departments on the south end and by a huge UPS sorting facility on the north end. Very little remains of the airport and there are no historical markers on the property to tell of the airport ever being there. Amelia Earhart Elementary School is located across the street on the west side of LeJeune Road and has a memorial marker, and Amelia Earhart Regional Park is located on the west side of LeJeune and north of E. 65th Street northwest of the where the actual airport was located.

Stunt pilot footage at Miami Municipal Airport in 1936: < http://www.britishpathe.com/record.php?id=7120

Movie clips from the 1937 air races at Miami Municipal are at: < http://www.britishpathe.com/record.php?id=14008

Movie clip from the 1939 11th annual air races at Miami Municipal: < http://www.criticalpast.com/video/65675063631_air-show_performs-different-stunts_trails-of-smoke_Miami-Municipal-Airport



2. All-American Airport/Miami International Master Field/Master (or Master's) Field/NAS Miami South Field #1/MCAS Miami

This airport was located at 25-52-45N, 80-15-00W, or just west of NW 27th Avenue, north of the Biscayne Canal at NW 106th Street, and located due east of the airport described in #1 above.

In 1938 Eddie Rickenbacker of Eastern Air Lines told the city of Miami that he would move the airline's headquarters out of Miami if they did not build a new airport. All-American Airport was then purchased and renamed to Miami International Master Airport and the city intended to enlarge it but before they could the Navy acquired it first as an auxiliary field for the Naval Reserve Air Base at Opa-locka. The CAA, forerunner to the FAA, built and staffed an air traffic control tower from February 1942 until October 1942 when the Navy took over the airport.

Master Field was acquired by the Naval Reserve Air Base Miami in the summer of 1939 (this conflicts with the above information). It had 869 acres and four runways with the longest being 7,400 feet. The first commanding officer was Major B. L. Smith, USMCR(O), who commanded Reserve Squadron VMS-4R. Both Master Field and Miami Municipal were integrated into NAS Miami in October 1942 when the Navy acquired them at a cost of $1.2+ million. The original NARB/NAS at Opa-locka to the north then became known as Mainside. The Navy built a large hangar and added 35 pre-fab buildings at Master Field that served as barracks for the enlisted, office space and classrooms. Training Unit VSB #5 was moved from Opa-locka Mainside to Master Field. This unit provided dive bomber training. The squadron number was changed to VF #10 in December 1944 and they operated as many as 90 FM Wildcats, 12 SNJs and a Stearman trainer. Another training unit, VB4 #3 operated from Master Field for a year from December 1944 to December 1945, training pilots in the Consolidated PB4Y-1 Liberator and PB4Y-2 Privateer aircraft.
Old News Articles about Miami Municipal Airport / Amelia Earhart Field and Master's Field
Old News Articles about Miami Municipal Airport / Amelia Earhart Field and Master's Field
1917 - Pilots Roger Jannus, Phil Rader, W. A. Spratt, Joe Bennett and Roland Rolf with biplane at Glenn Curtiss Flying School
1917 - Pilots Roger Jannus, Phil Rader, W. A. Spratt, Joe Bennett and Roland Rolf with biplane at Glenn Curtiss Flying School
1917 - Group of pilot trainees at Glenn Curtiss Flying School
1917 - Group of pilot trainees at Glenn Curtiss Flying School
1917 - Mechanics working on a Curtiss Jenny OX5 engine at Curtiss Air School hangar
1917 - Mechanics working on a Curtiss Jenny OX5 engine at Curtiss Air School hangar
Late 1910's - Joseph George Carpenter, a flight instructor at Glenn Curtiss Field with a Curtiss JN-4B Jenny
Late 1910's - Joseph George Carpenter, a flight instructor at Glenn Curtiss Field with a Curtiss JN-4B "Jenny"
Late 1910's - a flight student and flight instructor Joseph George Carpenter in a Curtiss JN-4B Jenny at Curtiss Field
Late 1910's - a flight student and flight instructor Joseph George Carpenter in a Curtiss JN-4B "Jenny" at Curtiss Field
Late 1910's - Joseph George Carpenter, a flight instructor at Glenn Curtiss Field with a Curtiss JN-4B Jenny
Late 1910's - Joseph George Carpenter, a flight instructor at Glenn Curtiss Field with a Curtiss JN-4B "Jenny"
Late 1910's - description written on back of an old photo of Joseph G. Carpenter in a Curtiss JM-4B at Curtiss Field in Hialeah
Late 1910's - description written on back of an old photo of Joseph G. Carpenter in a Curtiss JM-4B at Curtiss Field in Hialeah
Late 1910's - mechanics repairing a Curtiss JN-4B Jenny at Curtiss Field, Hialeah
Late 1910's - mechanics repairing a Curtiss JN-4B "Jenny" at Curtiss Field, Hialeah
Late 1910's - Joseph George Carpenter, a flight instructor at Glenn Curtiss Field with a Curtiss JN-4B Jenny
Late 1910's - Joseph George Carpenter, a flight instructor at Glenn Curtiss Field with a Curtiss JN-4B "Jenny"
Late 1910's - flight instructor Joseph G. Carpenter in a Curtiss JN-4B Jenny at Curtiss Field, Hialeah
Late 1910's - flight instructor Joseph G. Carpenter in a Curtiss JN-4B "Jenny" at Curtiss Field, Hialeah
Late 1910's - Joseph G. Carpenter and another gent in front of a Curtiss JN-4B Jenny at Curtiss Field, Hialeah
Late 1910's - Joseph G. Carpenter and another gent in front of a Curtiss JN-4B "Jenny" at Curtiss Field, Hialeah
Late 1910s - flight instructor Joseph G. Carpenter with a Curtiss JN-4B Jenny at Curtiss Field, Hialeah
Late 1910s - flight instructor Joseph G. Carpenter with a Curtiss JN-4B "Jenny" at Curtiss Field, Hialeah
1924 - Certificate of Flight for pilot Andrew H. Heermance at the Curtiss Florida Aviation Camp, Hialeah
1924 - Certificate of Flight for pilot Andrew H. Heermance at the Curtiss Florida Aviation Camp, Hialeah
1929 - Ground breaking ceremony Curtiss Flying Service / Pitcairn Aviation (later Eastern Air Lines) hangar  - Miami Municipal
1929 - Ground breaking ceremony Curtiss Flying Service / Pitcairn Aviation (later Eastern Air Lines) hangar - Miami Municipal
1929 - Ground breaking ceremony Curtiss Flying Service / Pitcairn Aviation (later Eastern Air Lines) hangar  - Miami Municipal
1929 - Ground breaking ceremony Curtiss Flying Service / Pitcairn Aviation (later Eastern Air Lines) hangar - Miami Municipal
1929 - Students at the Glenn Curtiss Flying School, Miami Municipal Airport
1929 - Students at the Glenn Curtiss Flying School, Miami Municipal Airport
1929 - article about Eastern Air Express (later Eastern Air Lines) service from Miami Municipal Airport to New York
1929 - article about Eastern Air Express (later Eastern Air Lines) service from Miami Municipal Airport to New York
1930 - the Goodyear Blimp Defender at Miami Municipal Airport
1930 - the Goodyear Blimp Defender at Miami Municipal Airport
1930 - Curtiss-Wright Corporation aircraft hangar at Miami Municipal Airport
1930 - Curtiss-Wright Corporation aircraft hangar at Miami Municipal Airport
1930 - Pitcairn Aviation hangar at Miami Municipal Airport
1930 - Pitcairn Aviation hangar at Miami Municipal Airport
1930 - U. S. Navy aircraft parked at the 1930 All American Air Races at Miami Municipal Airport
1930 - U. S. Navy aircraft parked at the 1930 All American Air Races at Miami Municipal Airport
1930's - Curtiss-Wright hangar at Miami Municipal Airport
1930's - Curtiss-Wright hangar at Miami Municipal Airport
1930 - article about Miami's first women's flying school at All-American Airport, Dade County, Florida
1930 - article about Miami's first women's flying school at All-American Airport, Dade County, Florida
1932 - U. S. Weather Bureau Airport Station, Miami Municipal Airport
1932 - U. S. Weather Bureau Airport Station, Miami Municipal Airport
1933 - 5th Annual All American Air Races at Miami Municipal Airport
1933 - 5th Annual All American Air Races at Miami Municipal Airport
1934 - famed aviation Howard Hughes and his Miami Air Race trophy at Miami Municipal Airport
1934 - famed aviation Howard Hughes and his Miami Air Race trophy at Miami Municipal Airport
1935 - Roadwork at Miami Municipal Airport in NW Dade County, Florida
1935 - Roadwork at Miami Municipal Airport in NW Dade County, Florida
1930's - Miami Municipal Airport and All-American Airport depicted on Miami Air Guide
1930's - Miami Municipal Airport and All-American Airport depicted on Miami Air Guide
1936 - article about the 9th Annual All-American Air Races at All-American Airport, Dade County
1936 - article about the 9th Annual All-American Air Races at All-American Airport, Dade County
1937 - article about Amelia Earhart getting ready to leave Miami Municipal Airport on her ill-fated round the world flight
1937 - article about Amelia Earhart getting ready to leave Miami Municipal Airport on her ill-fated round the world flight
1936 - article about T. C. Chalk's aircraft involved in crash at All-American Airport, Dade County
1936 - article about T. C. Chalk's aircraft involved in crash at All-American Airport, Dade County
1937 - article about experimental fool-proof airplane landing accident at All-American Airport, Dade County
1937 - article about experimental "fool-proof" airplane landing accident at All-American Airport, Dade County
1937 - part of the crowd at the 10th Annual All-American Air Maneuvers at Miami Municipal Airport
1937 - part of the crowd at the 10th Annual All-American Air Maneuvers at Miami Municipal Airport
1937 - the 10th Annual All-American Air Maneuvers at Miami Municipal Airport
1937 - the 10th Annual All-American Air Maneuvers at Miami Municipal Airport
1937 - spectators looking at aircraft crash at the 10th Annual All American Air Races at Miami Municipal Airport
1937 - spectators looking at aircraft crash at the 10th Annual All American Air Races at Miami Municipal Airport
1938 - article about expensive fire at Miami Municipal Airport's hanger number #1 (see photo ->)
1938 - article about expensive fire at Miami Municipal Airport's hanger number #1 (see photo ->)
1938 - the aftermath of the very expensive fire at Hangar #2 at Miami Municipal Airport
1938 - the aftermath of the very expensive fire at Hangar #2 at Miami Municipal Airport
1938 - Amelia Earhart Air Mail Cachet
1938 - Amelia Earhart Air Mail Cachet
1939 - sticker for the Miami All American Air Maneuvers at Miami Municipal Airport
1939 - sticker for the Miami All American Air Maneuvers at Miami Municipal Airport
1939 - the top portion of the aerial photo of Miami Municipal Airport hosting the 1939 All-American Air Races
1939 - the top portion of the aerial photo of Miami Municipal Airport hosting the 1939 All-American Air Races
1939 - article about 53 U. S. Marine Corps aircraft (Curtiss R4C-1 Condor in foreground) visiting Miami Municipal Airport
1939 - article about 53 U. S. Marine Corps aircraft (Curtiss R4C-1 Condor in foreground) visiting Miami Municipal Airport
1940 - Pan American B-307 Stratoliner NC19902 Clipper Rainbow taxiing at Miami Municipal Airport
1940 - Pan American B-307 Stratoliner NC19902 "Clipper Rainbow" taxiing at Miami Municipal Airport
1940 - Pan American B-307 Stratoliner NC19910 Clipper Comet taking off at Miami Municipal Airport
1940 - Pan American B-307 Stratoliner NC19910 "Clipper Comet" taking off at Miami Municipal Airport
Early 1940's - a Langley Twin, NX29099, built in 1940 and made of plastic-bonded Mahogany at Miami Municipal Airport
Early 1940's - a Langley Twin, NX29099, built in 1940 and made of plastic-bonded Mahogany at Miami Municipal Airport
Early 1940's - a Langley Twin, NX29099, built in 1940 and made of plastic-bonded Mahogany at Miami Municipal Airport
Early 1940's - a Langley Twin, NX29099, built in 1940 and made of plastic-bonded Mahogany at Miami Municipal Airport
Early 1940's - a Langley Twin, NX29099, built in 1940 and made of plastic-bonded Mahogany at Miami Municipal Airport
Early 1940's - a Langley Twin, NX29099, built in 1940 and made of plastic-bonded Mahogany at Miami Municipal Airport
Early 1940's - a Langley Twin, NX29099, built in 1940 and made of plastic-bonded Mahogany at Miami Municipal Airport
Early 1940's - a Langley Twin, NX29099, built in 1940 and made of plastic-bonded Mahogany at Miami Municipal Airport
1941 - air trafffic control tower at Miami Municipal Airport, Dade County
1941 - air trafffic control tower at Miami Municipal Airport, Dade County
1942 - Aerial view of Miami Municipal Airport in NW Dade County
1942 - Aerial view of Miami Municipal Airport in NW Dade County
Then: Navy Municipal (former Miami Municipal) and Naval Air Station Miami Master Field (former All-American Airport)
Then: Navy Municipal (former Miami Municipal) and Naval Air Station Miami Master Field (former All-American Airport)
Both then and now: Miami Municipal / Amelia Earhart Field and All-American Airport / Masters Field / NAS Miami South Field #1
Both then and now: Miami Municipal / Amelia Earhart Field and All-American Airport / Masters Field / NAS Miami South Field #1
1947 and 2007 - then and now for Miami Municipal Airport and Master (AKA Masters and Master's) Field
1947 and 2007 - then and now for Miami Municipal Airport and Master (AKA Masters and Master's) Field
1947 - First Day Cover for Amelia Earhart Field Dedication, October 26, 1947
1947 - First Day Cover for Amelia Earhart Field Dedication, October 26, 1947
1948 - Amelia Earhart Field (former Miami Municipal Airport) and Master (AKA Masters and Master's) Field
1948 - Amelia Earhart Field (former Miami Municipal Airport) and Master (AKA Masters and Master's) Field
1948 - Amelia Earhart Field (left) and Master's Field (right)
1948 - Amelia Earhart Field (left) and Master's Field (right)
1949 - 17th annual Miami All American Air Maneuvers postal cachet
1949 - 17th annual Miami All American Air Maneuvers postal cachet
1952 - aerial view of north Hialeah, Amelia Earhart Field and Master's Field
1952 - aerial view of north Hialeah, Amelia Earhart Field and Master's Field
1952 - aerial view of north Hialeah, Amelia Earhart Field and Master's Field with text
1952 - aerial view of north Hialeah, Amelia Earhart Field and Master's Field with text
1952 - Amelia Earhart Field, Master's Field, Naval Air Station Miami and north Hialeah, Florida
1952 - Amelia Earhart Field, Master's Field, Naval Air Station Miami and north Hialeah, Florida
1952 - aerial closeup view of hangars adjacent to LeJeune Road at Amelia Earhart Field
1952 - aerial closeup view of hangars adjacent to LeJeune Road at Amelia Earhart Field
1952 - article about Eastern Air Lines pilot disturbing the peace at Miami Municipal Airport neighborhood
1952 - article about Eastern Air Lines pilot disturbing the peace at Miami Municipal Airport neighborhood
1955 - article about the University of Maryland Terrapins flying to Miami Municipal Airport for the 1956 Orange Bowl
1955 - article about the University of Maryland Terrapins flying to Miami Municipal Airport for the 1956 Orange Bowl
1956 - Amelia Earhart Field (former Miami Municipal Airport and Navy Municipal Airport)
1956 - Amelia Earhart Field (former Miami Municipal Airport and Navy Municipal Airport)
1959 - Advertisement for the Drag Races at Amelia Earhart Field
1959 - Advertisement for the Drag Races at Amelia Earhart Field
1959 - admission ticket to the Amelia Earhart Field Drag Races, Hialeah
1959 - admission ticket to the Amelia Earhart Field Drag Races, Hialeah
1960 - pass out check for the Amelia Earhart Field Drag Races, Hialeah
1960 - pass out check for the Amelia Earhart Field Drag Races, Hialeah
1960 - Don Gist in his Corvette at the drag races at Masters Field
1960 - Don Gist in his Corvette at the drag races at Masters Field
1965 - Miami News article about historical plaque honoring Amelia Earhart being stolen from former Amelia Earhart Field
1965 - Miami News article about historical plaque honoring Amelia Earhart being stolen from former Amelia Earhart Field
1965 - top portion of Miami News article about Amelia Earhart historical plaques being stolen from former Amelia Earhart Field
1965 - top portion of Miami News article about Amelia Earhart historical plaques being stolen from former Amelia Earhart Field
1965-bottom portion of Miami News article about Amelia Earhart historical plaques being stolen from former Amelia Earhart Field
1965-bottom portion of Miami News article about Amelia Earhart historical plaques being stolen from former Amelia Earhart Field
1970 - aerial view of Opa-locka Airport, Amelia Earhart Field (closed) and Master's Field (closed), Miami
1970 - aerial view of Opa-locka Airport, Amelia Earhart Field (closed) and Master's Field (closed), Miami