Stewart Airfield
In 1934 Douglas MacArthur, then superintendent of the United States Military Academy, proposed flight training for cadets at Stewart Field. The city sold the land to the military academy for one dollar. A small dirt airstrip was cleared and graded. (Wiki)
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stewart_I ... al_AirportStewart Field was officially dedicated on August 25, 1942 and the rapidly developing subpost became an integral part of the Military Academy. It contained shops, school buildings and other facilities for the training of up to 500 air cadets, and at its peak during the war years housed approximately 2,000 officers and enlisted personnel. Although Stewart Field was under the administrative control and responsibility of the Superintendent of USMA, it had its own commandant. Technical control was placed under the Army Air Forces Flying Training Command in July 1943; other changes in the command channel occurred during and immediately after the Second World War.
The last class of air cadets graduated in June 1946, after which flight training for cadets was discontinued. In January 1947 Stewart Field was turned over to the newly established Department of the Air Force. When the Air Force closed the facility in December 1969, part of it was returned to the Academy for use as a housing area.
When Stewart Field was deactivated in 1970 due to the draw down of the Aerospace Defense Command, the Air Force released most of Stewart AFB back to civilian control in which it became Stewart International Airport.
http://blog.usmalibrary.org/2015/03/18/ ... est-point/
Dedication Day Aug 25, 1942 cadets march to their planes BT-13 trainers.
Cadets fly over field in their BT-13 trainers on Dedication Day Aug. 25, 1942
West Point Grads at Stewart June 1943 advanced pilot training
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