 Bearing a great resemblance to typical U.S. architecture of the time, its original purpose was as a refueling stop for long-range piston engined aircraft traveling between the Middle East and Southeast Asia.However, with the advent of jet aircraft, such stops were no longer necessary, and the airport saw little use.Since the airport was designed as a military base, it is likely that the United States intended to use it in case there was a show-down of war between the United States and the former USSR.