Customer Reviews

Newark Airport (Images of Aviation)

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Newark Airport is a fine pictorial history in the excellent Images of America series. Author Henry Holden has obtained many superb photos that tell the story of this great airport.

Newark Airport was a renowned aviation center during the 1930s. During World War II it was taken over by the Army Air Forces and became Newark Army Air Field.

A new terminal was built in the early 1950s next to the historic administration building on the north end of the field. It was replaced by the first of three huge terminal building--each with satellite terminal buildings--starting in the 1970s. The original terminal was then operated by Peoples Express. The building was abandoned when the Defense Department took it over to use as receiving hospital for anticipated casualties in the first gulf war. Fortunately, the heavy casualties predicted by the media never materialized and the building was demolished soon after. The administration building--on the national register of historic places--was moved and is in full use today.

Newark Airport, renamed Newark Liberty Airport after the September 11, 2001, attacks on the U.S., is a remarkable place. This fine book does its subject justice and is highly recommended.

I was excited to finally get a book about Newark International Airport (which as a kid I made many visits to), but can't believe how may errors there are in the text accompanying the photos. For instance:

-p83 "North Terminal Prior to its Grand Opening"
Photo is nothing more than a photo of the terminal entrance in either the late 70's or 80's. Is the author suggesting there was a another "grand opening" when the 1953 terminal building was modified to handle international traffic (after Terminals A & B opened)?

-p90 "North Terminal c.1957"
The text below states "Three years later, the airport opened two new, modern terminals." WRONG - Terminals A & B opened in 1973, 16 years later.

-p106 "Winter Aerial View of Terminals A, B and C, c.1974"
WRONG. The Marriott Hotel (built in the 1980's) is visible in the center of the picture.

-p107 "Air-Side View of Terminal B"
WRONG! It's not really a true "air-side" photo to begin with. Except for a glance of a Terminal B satellite at the very top of the photo, the majority of the picture shows you the roof of Terminal A!

-p111 "Terminal C, c1984"
Not likely as Continental seems to be in full swing there -- and they didn't take-over People Express until 1987. This photo also contradicts text under the lower photo on p114 talking about the "Grand Opening" of Terminal C in 1988!

-p119 "Terminal C, 1994"
REALLY WRONG HERE!!! It's Terminal A, probably in the 1970's judging by the airline counters shown and the attire of the people in the shot!

There are more errors, but I'll probably run out of room writing about them. I'm VERY disappointed in this Arcadia book as they usually put out superb material. It is very frustrating to try to read through this book with all of the mistakes. Seems like it was rushed to publication. So much for the author's help from the "experts" who allegedly knew the material!

The photos are great, but alot of what's written about them is simply (and historically) inaccurate.