During World War II, the airfield was the forward staging base for the 444th Bombardment Group, which carried out B-29 Superfortress raids on the Japanese Home Islands.

In 1943, The United States Army Air Force was given rights to use the airfield to stage bombing missions from India to attack Japan.

This plant was considered to be the most important single objective within Japan's steel industry, and had long held top priority for the first strike.

[2] The 81st provided close air support for Chinese Army ground forces fighting the Japanese, as well as flying escort missions for the B-29s over the Japanese-occupied area of China.

In January 1945 the B-29 bombers were moved back to India before transferring in April to the newly captured bases in the Mariana Islands.