During World War II, the U.S. Navy chose DeKalb to be the site for the manufacture of drone TDR-1 aircraft and built an airport on the city's east side.

Interstate Aircraft and Engineering Corporation (based in El Segundo, California) assembled planes at the new airport in DeKalb.

[1] Powered by two Lycoming O-435 engines of 220 horsepower (160 kW) each, the TDR-1 used a remarkably simple design, with a steel-tube frame constructed by the Schwinn bicycle company and covered with a molded wood skin.

[3] Interstate Aircraft went out of business in 1948, and, at that time, the City of DeKalb purchased the airport runways and modest facilities.

He built 13 hangars and a repair shop, and even added a restaurant operated by his wife and fellow pilot, Ethel Taylor.

Roger Keys, historian and DeKalb's local TDR-1 drone expert, currently has wings, a canopy, landing gear, propellers, and numerous other items in his collection.

[6] The airport accepted funds from the federal CARES Act during the COVID-19 pandemic to address issues such as personnel staffing and replacing snow equipment.

[10] Runway 2/20 is fully suitable for take-offs of corporate aircraft, such as the Boeing Business Jet, for non-stop flights to Europe and China.