[2] The airport was built during World War II in late 1943 by the United States Army 807th and 808th Aviation Engineer Battalions along with the 60th Naval Construction Battalion constructed a 6,000' x 100' coral and steel matting single runway running NNW to SSE.

In mid-November 1943, the Seabees performed rough grading on the northern end of the strip, and crushed coral for the entire area.

On 5 January the 808th departed, and the 60th CB completed the airfield, building fighter and medium bomber hardstands, mostly located to the north, with more to the east and a few on the southern side of the runway.

[3][4] At the war's end, millions of dollars of equipment both new and used was bulldozed into huge holes in the area and abandoned.

[citation needed] This article incorporates public domain material from the Air Force Historical Research Agency