In its later years, it was a major base for the United States Air Force (USAF) RF-4C Phantom reconnaissance fighter fleet.

The United States Army leased 3,000 acres (1,200 ha) from the city of Austin, on land acquired from the Santiago Del Valle Grant.

The name of the base was changed to Bergstrom Army Air Field on 3 March 1943, in honor of Austinite captain John August Earl Bergstrom, who was killed at Clark Field, Philippines, during one of the early Japanese bombings at the start of World War II.

The base was transferred to Strategic Air Command (SAC) in 1949, followed by the arrival of the 27th Fighter Wing on March 1 of that year.

Flying under the Second Air Force, the unit flew B-52 Stratofortress bombers and KC-135 Stratotanker aerial refueling aircraft.

On July 1, 1966, the base was once again transferred back to TAC, becoming home to the Twelfth Air Force and the 75th Tactical Reconnaissance Wing (TRW).

The 12th was the controlling organization responsible for all TAC reconnaissance, fighter, and airlift operations west of the Mississippi River.

Co-located was the Air Force Reserve's 924th Tactical Airlift Group as of October 8, 1976, flying C-130 Hercules transports.