in 1940 the united states army corps of engineers took over the facility and expanded it to three full runways, revetments for parking aircraft, and development of personnel quarters. during world war ii the airport was used by fourth air force immediately after the pearl harbor attack for air defense of the pacific coast. it was later used by air transport command and air technical service command as an intermediate ferrying field for lend-lease aircraft being flown to alaska for subsequent transfer to the soviet union.