Originally built during World War II, Northwest Field was closed as an airfield in 1949 but has been used for other military activity since, including housing a satellite tracking station, air defenses, and being used for training.

[4] Brigadier General Frank A. Armstrong of the U.S. Army Air Forces was the first to land his B-29 at the newly constructed airfield.

[1] In September 1946, the airfield took severe damage from Typhoon Querida, with the 21st Fighter Group's barracks completely leveled.

In March 1991, the Navy cancelled the project, citing high costs and a reduced threat in the West Pacific.

[19][20][21][22] Since at least 2012, Northwest Field and adjacent Ritidian Point were eyed by the U.S. military as a possible site for a U.S. Marine Corps firing range complex,[23] becoming the preferred location over other options on Guam by 2013, in part due to its proximity to the site of the new U.S. Marine Corps base and because the land was already owned by the federal government.

[24] The military's plan drew controversy, with locals complaining that part of Guam National Wildlife Refuge would be closed up to 39 weeks a year, due to being used as the proposed range's safety zone.