In 1941, the federal government appropriated the local airport, establishing Presque Isle Army Airfield for planes bound to and from Great Britain.

Presque Isle AFB became the site for the only operational launch complex for the Northrop SM-62 Snark Intercontinental Cruise Missile (ICM).

[12] In addition to the hangars and pads, the complex included "a jet engine run-up building, the warhead maintenance and inspection building, missile maintenance and guidance lab", a dormitory for night alert personnel,[12] and a compressor house for each hangar.

[15] After the 702d SMW was declared operational on 28 February 1961, 20 Snarks were on alert in the summer of 1961,[16] : 28  and on 25 June 1961 the wing was inactivated[17] following President Kennedy's earlier announcement for "73 military establishments" to be closed[18] (Congress was informed on 30 March.

As of 2020 it offers scheduled jet passenger service to Newark and Washington-Dulles, in addition to serving as a cargo airport.