the airfield was redesignated vernam air force base on march 26, 1948, by department of the air force general order number 10. the mission of the base was primarily weather reporting, with a detachment of the military air transport service (mats) 6th weather squadron (regional) being the primary unit on the base. it also became a destination for long-range strategic air command fighter escort aircraft, with f-82 twin mustangs flying to vernam from kearney afb, nebraska then returning on cross-country training flights. president harry s. truman visited vernam afb on 30 june 1948 during a tour of the caribbean.