The mission of Smoky Hill AAF was that of a Second Phase Heavy Bomber Operational Training Unit (OTU).

Upon completion, the groups moved on to the third phase, the final level of training before overseas deployment to the combat theaters.

[2][4] In April 1943, the 49th Aviation Squadron arrived at Smoky Hill; the all-African American unit included mechanics, electricians, and aircraft handlers but no pilots.

As postwar budgets declined, the base was eventually closed and turned over to the Air Materiel Command late in 1949.

In November, Defense Secretary Robert McNamara announced that Schilling AFB, along with 94 other military installations, would be closing.

[5] The airport was the takeoff and landing point for the Virgin Atlantic GlobalFlyer, flown by Steve Fossett in the first nonstop, non-refueled solo circumnavigation of the earth from February 28 to March 3, 2005.

This time he broke the world record for distance over a closed circuit without landing, which he had set a month prior.

In 1967 Central merged into Frontier Airlines which used Convair 580s, and in early 1978 introduced Boeing 737 jets to Salina on flights to Denver and Chicago, the latter making three stops en route.

The Chicago flights were later replaced with service to Kansas City, and Frontier was soon flying all 737 jets through Salina up to four times per day.

1990-1991 as Trans World Express (on behalf of TWA) to St. Louis with a stop in Manhattan, Kansas, using Embraer 120 Brasilia's.

The carrier used a de Havilland Canada DHC-6 Twin Otter and operated as Braniff Express during its final two years.

Great Lakes Airlines first served Salina briefly in 2000-2001, operating as United Express with flights to Hays and Denver, using Beechcraft 1900Ds.

SkyWest Airlines, the current provider operating as United Express, began service in 2018 using Bombardier CRJ100/200 regional jets.

"One of the foremost and the first problems encountered was an excessive amount of solvent being required to properly wash and clean aircraft," the report said.

[10] It first became known that Trichlorethylene (TCE), a degreaser used to clean aircraft and a carcinogen, as well as other compounds disposed of on the former base, have migrated into the soil and groundwater, forming a toxic plume.

[15] In spring of 2013 the Department of Justice signed a settlement that the government would pay $8.4 million merely toward developing the plan to clean up the former base.

[15] As of September 2015 studies have continued to find groundwater contamination in soil and bedrock, and no concentrations of vapor requiring immediate action were found in an area around Salina Regional Airport.