During World War II the airfield, then known as Darragh Airfield was used as a military airfield by the United States Army Air Force Ninth Air Force 57th Fighter Group during the North African Campaign against Axis forces. The 57th flew P-40 Warhawks from the airfield between 19 January-3 March 1943 before moving forward with the British Eighth Army.



The current airfield appears to be overlaid on its World War II predecessor facility.