In the early 1920's officers of the 101st Squadron of the Massachusetts Air National Guard lobbied for a headquarters of operations to serve as a military base as well as a commercial aerodrome for Boston. Leaders in the Airfield for Boston Campaign included many prominent and influential people, including members of the Lafayette Escadrille and Godfrey Cabot.

Jeffries Point in East Boston was selected as the site, due to its principal advantage of the capability for enlargement through the filling in of the adjoining flats, owned by the state. The aircraft landing field at Jeffires Point in East Boston was to accommodate military, naval and air mail airplanes and commercial and civilian flyers.

Built in 1923, East Boston's new airport had two 1,500 foot cinder covered runways laid out in the shape of a "T" with turning circles at each end. This cinder-covered East Boston landing field was smoothed by a pair of draft horses pulling a wooden drag.

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