It had two 4,500-ft runways with a third main of about 6,200 ft. Construction was well underway by the time of the Pearl Harbor attack, after which discussions were held to convert Carr Field to an Army Air corps base.

San Angelo AAF was one of the "West Texas Bombardier Quadrangle" schools of the Army Air Forces Training Command.

The station facility consisted of a large number of buildings based on standardized plans and architectural drawings, with the buildings designed to be the "cheapest, temporary character with structural stability only sufficient to meet the needs of the service which the structure is intended to fulfill during the period of its contemplated war use" was underway.

The station was designed to be nearly self-sufficient, with not only hangars, but also barracks, warehouses, hospitals, dental clinics, dining halls, and maintenance shops were needed.

There were libraries, social clubs for officers and enlisted men, and stores to buy living necessities.

Over 250 buildings, together with complete water, sewer, electric, and gas utilities, the airfield served over 4,000 military personnel.

Flying cadets came from phase one flight schools at Ellington Field, Texas, and Santa Anna Army Airbase, California.

Early training at San Angelo AAF reflected the need to get men into combat quickly.

The first course of instruction was 12 weeks long, which again reflected the urgent need for bombardiers in the heavy and medium bombers which were beginning to roll off the production lines at Boeing, Martin, Consolidated, Ford, and other plants.

Later, as time permitted and the number of graduates increased, the course was extended to 18 weeks in July 1943, which added instruction in night and dead-reckoning navigation.

To accommodate the navigation training, both types of training were included in the same flight for the multiple pilots and navigators assigned to each aircraft and the length of the flights were extended, making simulated bomb runs over several simulated targets and dropping practice bombs over several practice ranges set up.

The training program was again extended to 24 weeks in October 1944, but this led to problems with the availability of the M-38A2 practice bombs.

Students and officers were given a choice of separation or being allowed to remain in the postwar Air Force and continue training.

Ultimately, a transfer agreement was arranged after the war which allowed the City of San Angelo to reclaim its original 673.66-acre airport and also retain a lease on 896.7 acres of Tom Green County school land.

The buildings of the ground station were sold, removed, or torn down over the years, and only some foundations remain in bushy areas.