Editing Marine Air Terminal (section)

=== Development ===
La Guardia's administration presented plans for a renovation of North Beach Airport (now [[LaGuardia Airport]]) in August 1937. The plans included a terminal for [[seaplane]]s along [[Bowery Bay]], on the western side of the airport, as well as a terminal for land planes along [[Flushing Bay]], on the eastern side. The seaplane terminal, to be known as the Marine Air Terminal, was to contain four hangars, an administrative building, and a machine shop.<ref name="p1322398412">{{cite news |date=August 15, 1937 |title=Urges Queens Airport Fund Of $12,762,500: LaGuardia Discloses Plan for Great North Beach Trans-Atlantic Terminal Would' Quadruple Area Government Expensed to Meet $9,050,900 Of Cost |page=20 |work=New York Herald Tribune |issn=1941-0646 |id={{ProQuest|1322398412}}}}</ref><ref name="nyt-1937-08-15">{{Cite news |date=August 15, 1937 |title=Great City Airport Planned by Mayor; Development of North Beach as Terminus for Land and Sea Planes Weighed |language=en-US |work=The New York Times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1937/08/15/archives/great-city-airport-planned-by-mayor-development-of-north-beach-as.html |access-date=August 3, 2022 |issn=0362-4331 |archive-date=August 3, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220803204303/https://www.nytimes.com/1937/08/15/archives/great-city-airport-planned-by-mayor-development-of-north-beach-as.html |url-status=live}}</ref> The administrative building was to be a circular brick-and-steel edifice measuring {{convert|38|ft}} tall and about {{convert|136|ft}} across. A baggage check, customs and immigration offices, an [[Air traffic control|air traffic control tower]], and various other offices would be centered around a main waiting room, and there would be access ramps for seaplane passengers.<ref name="nyt-1937-08-15" /> The seaplane and land-plane terminals, both designed by the firm of [[Delano & Aldrich]], would operate independently of each other.<ref name="p514847007">{{cite news |date=July 26, 1938 |title=New York City Speeds Building On Giant Port for All Planes: Regular Schedules Next Hospitality for Planes |page=2 |work=The Christian Science Monitor |id={{ProQuest|514847007}}}}</ref> The [[Works Progress Administration]] (WPA) would provide federal funding for the project.<ref name="p1322398412" /><ref name="nyt-1937-08-15" />

U.S. president [[Franklin D. Roosevelt]] approved plans for the airport on September 3, 1937,<ref name="NPS p. 3" /><ref name="NYCL p. 2" /> and La Guardia participated in a [[groundbreaking]] ceremony for the airport six days later.<ref name="p1223324565">{{cite news |date=September 10, 1937 |title=Mayor Breaks Airport Ground At North Beach: Starts $13,000,000 Work, On Which W. P. A. Will Contribute $9,000,000 |page=18 |work=New York Herald Tribune |issn=1941-0646 |id={{ProQuest|1223324565}}}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |date=September 10, 1937 |title=North Beach Work Started by Mayor; He Operates Steam Shovel and Digs First Earth From Bluff for Enlarged Airport |language=en-US |work=The New York Times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1937/09/10/archives/north-beach-work-started-by-mayor-he-operates-steam-shovel-and-digs.html |access-date=August 3, 2022 |issn=0362-4331 |archive-date=August 3, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220803204308/https://www.nytimes.com/1937/09/10/archives/north-beach-work-started-by-mayor-he-operates-steam-shovel-and-digs.html |url-status=live}}</ref> The airport was originally projected to cost $15 million and be completed in time for the opening of the [[1939 New York World's Fair]]. By July 1938, the WPA employed 7,800 workers on the project, and workers were expanding the airport site through [[land reclamation]].<ref name="p1243011369">{{cite news |last=Allen |first=C. B. |date=July 24, 1938 |title=Air Lines Plan Base In Queens by Spring: North Beach Being Built to Their Specifications and They Already Are Negotiating for Space Mayor Must Obtain Mail Designation Carriers Prefer New Field to Newark and Refuse to Avail Themselves of New Buildings in Jersey Plan of North Beach Field and Map of Fill Completed |page=A1 |work=New York Herald Tribune |issn=1941-0646 |id={{ProQuest|1243011369}}}}</ref><ref name="nyt-1938-07-31">{{Cite news |last=Anderson |first=F. David |date=July 31, 1938 |title=Along the Far-Flung Airways; New Plane Base Hailed $22,000,000 Air Terminal At North Beach to Be One of Finest Work Ahead of Schedule Expansion Allowance Made Will Handle Marine Traffic |language=en-US |work=The New York Times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1938/07/31/archives/along-the-farflung-airways-new-plane-base-hailed-22000000-air.html |access-date=August 3, 2022 |issn=0362-4331 |archive-date=August 3, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220803204304/https://www.nytimes.com/1938/07/31/archives/along-the-farflung-airways-new-plane-base-hailed-22000000-air.html |url-status=live}}</ref> The number of workers had increased to 11,500 by that November, and the cost had increased to $29 million.<ref name="nyt-1938-11-27">{{Cite news |last=Sprague |first=Marshall |date=November 27, 1938 |title=Big Air Terminal Takes Shape; Major Airlines Lease Hangars at North Beach Base, Largest in The World, And Work Is Pushed for Opening Next Spring Earth Transported Hangar Nearly Completed Seaplane Accommodations Short Run from City |language=en-US |work=The New York Times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1938/11/27/archives/big-air-terminal-takes-shape-major-airlines-lease-hangars-at-north.html |access-date=August 3, 2022 |issn=0362-4331 |archive-date=August 3, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220803204307/https://www.nytimes.com/1938/11/27/archives/big-air-terminal-takes-shape-major-airlines-lease-hangars-at-north.html |url-status=live}}</ref> Prior to the opening of the seaplane terminal, in early 1939, ''The New York Times'' reported that flying boats from England, France, Germany, and the United States would be using the terminal.<ref name="nyt-1939-03-19">{{Cite news |last=Anderson |first=David |date=March 19, 1939 |title=New Lights for Airport; Runway Markers, Special Floods, Are to Brighten North Beach Field |language=en-US |work=The New York Times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1939/03/19/archives/new-lights-for-airport-runway-markers-special-floods-are-to.html |access-date=August 3, 2022 |issn=0362-4331 |archive-date=August 3, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220803224122/https://www.nytimes.com/1939/03/19/archives/new-lights-for-airport-runway-markers-special-floods-are-to.html |url-status=live}}</ref> The terminal had been planned with two seaplane hangars, but only one hangar was built at the time;<ref name="nyt-1939-04-16">{{Cite news |last=Anderson |first=David |date=April 16, 1939 |title=Along the World's Far-Flung Airways; City Plane Base Grows Dedication of North Beach Airport on April 30 Planned by Mayor 6,000 Feet of Runways Rain Slows Work 23,000 Men Employed |language=en-US |work=The New York Times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1939/04/16/archives/along-the-worlds-farflung-airways-city-plane-base-grows-dedication.html |access-date=August 3, 2022 |issn=0362-4331 |archive-date=August 3, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220803224052/https://www.nytimes.com/1939/04/16/archives/along-the-worlds-farflung-airways-city-plane-base-grows-dedication.html |url-status=live}}</ref> that hangar was nearly complete by April 1939.<ref name="nyt-1939-04-14">{{Cite news |date=April 14, 1939 |title=WPA Speeds Work Before New Cuts; Forces in Various Boroughs Put on Competitive Basis to Help Finish Projects |language=en-US |work=The New York Times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1939/04/14/archives/wpa-speeds-work-before-new-cuts-forces-in-various-boroughs-put-on.html |access-date=August 3, 2022 |issn=0362-4331 |archive-date=August 3, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220803224124/https://www.nytimes.com/1939/04/14/archives/wpa-speeds-work-before-new-cuts-forces-in-various-boroughs-put-on.html |url-status=live}}</ref>

The expanded North Beach Airport opened on October 15, 1939,<ref>{{cite news |date=October 14, 1939 |title=150,000 To See North Beach Opening Fete: Dedication Of Airport Tomorrow Is Hailed As Boon To Queens |page=1 |work=Long Island Star-Journal |agency=Fultonhistory.com |url=http://fultonhistory.com/highlighter/highlight-for-xml?altUrl=http%3A%2F%2Ffultonhistory.com%2FNewspaper%252014%2FLong%2520Island%2520City%2520NY%2520Star%2520Journal%2FLong%2520Island%2520City%2520NY%2520Star%2520Journal%25201939%2FLong%2520Island%2520City%2520NY%2520Star%2520Journal%25201939%2520-%25201104.pdf&highlightsFile=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.fultonhistory.com%2Fhighlighter%2Fhits%2F9548f72c8a3f14edcdbc518a8fadfb3e#page=1 |access-date=March 26, 2016 |archive-date=August 9, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220809145345/https://fultonhistory.com/Newspaper%2014/Long%20Island%20City%20NY%20Star%20Journal/Long%20Island%20City%20NY%20Star%20Journal%201939/Long%20Island%20City%20NY%20Star%20Journal%201939%20-%201104.pdf#page=1 |url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="LIStarNorhtBeachAirport-Oct141939-pg2">{{cite news |date=October 14, 1939 |title=150,000 To See North Beach Opening Fete: Dedication Of Airport Tomorrow Is Hailed As Boon To Queens |page=2 |work=Long Island Star-Journal |agency=Fultonhistory.com |url=http://fultonhistory.com/highlighter/highlight-for-xml?altUrl=http%3A%2F%2Ffultonhistory.com%2FNewspaper%252014%2FLong%2520Island%2520City%2520NY%2520Star%2520Journal%2FLong%2520Island%2520City%2520NY%2520Star%2520Journal%25201939%2FLong%2520Island%2520City%2520NY%2520Star%2520Journal%25201939%2520-%25201105.pdf&highlightsFile=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.fultonhistory.com%2Fhighlighter%2Fhits%2F17e13c260e18cbe32edf7e2b3f46db75#page=1 |access-date=March 26, 2016 |archive-date=August 9, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220809145336/https://fultonhistory.com/Newspaper%2014/Long%20Island%20City%20NY%20Star%20Journal/Long%20Island%20City%20NY%20Star%20Journal%201939/Long%20Island%20City%20NY%20Star%20Journal%201939%20-%201105.pdf#page=1 |url-status=live}}</ref> and was officially renamed the New York Municipal Airport–LaGuardia Field later that year.<ref>{{Cite news |date=December 18, 1939 |title=City Airport Call Is Changed to 'L-G'; CAA Action on Radio Signal Is Taken as Acceptance of Name La Guardia Field |language=en-US |work=The New York Times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1939/12/18/archives/city-airport-call-is-changed-to-lg-caa-action-on-radio-signal-is.html |access-date=August 3, 2022 |issn=0362-4331 |archive-date=August 3, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220803224124/https://www.nytimes.com/1939/12/18/archives/city-airport-call-is-changed-to-lg-caa-action-on-radio-signal-is.html |url-status=live}}</ref> Covering {{convert|558|acre}} with nearly {{convert|4|mi|km}} of runways, the airport cost $40 million, making it the largest and most expensive in the world at that time.<ref name="NPS p. 3" /><ref name="NYCL p. 2" /> The seaplane terminal comprised $7.5 million of this cost, and the hangar alone cost $2 million.<ref name="nyt-1940-03-31">{{Cite news |last=Anderson |first=David |date=March 31, 1940 |title=Along the Far-Flung Airways; City Field Ocean Base La Guardia Seaplane Unit Speeds Clipper Today --Looks To Future |language=en-US |work=The New York Times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1940/03/31/archives/along-the-farflung-airways-city-field-ocean-base-la-guardia.html |access-date=August 3, 2022 |issn=0362-4331 |archive-date=August 3, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220803235337/https://www.nytimes.com/1940/03/31/archives/along-the-farflung-airways-city-field-ocean-base-la-guardia.html |url-status=live}}</ref> The land-plane section of the airport opened for commercial flights on December 2, 1939,<ref>{{Cite news |date=December 2, 1939 |title=La Guardia Field Begins Operations; First Airliner Lands at North Beach at Midnight, Greeted by Mayor and 3,000 First Air Passengers Alight at North Beach, Welcomed by Mayor at Midnight Opening |language=en-US |work=The New York Times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1939/12/02/archives/la-guardia-field-begins-operations-first-airliner-lands-at-north.html |access-date=August 6, 2022 |issn=0362-4331 |archive-date=August 6, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220806182935/https://www.nytimes.com/1939/12/02/archives/la-guardia-field-begins-operations-first-airliner-lands-at-north.html |url-status=live}}</ref> but the completion of the marine terminal was delayed until March 1940.<ref name="nyt-1940-03-31" /><ref name="p1243016230">{{cite news |date=March 31, 1940 |title=Clippers' Base At North Beach To Open Today: First Flight to Europe From LaGuardia Field Will Start After Dedication |page=6 |work=New York Herald Tribune |issn=1941-0646 |id={{ProQuest|1243016230}}}}</ref> This was in part because construction in Bowery Bay had prevented seaplanes from landing there. Seaplanes instead traveled to bases in [[Port Washington, New York]], and in [[Baltimore|Baltimore, Maryland]].<ref name="nyt-1940-03-31" />