Pyote Army Air Field was established as a B-17 Flying Fortress crew training base during World War II. Initially newly established bomber groups were trained at Pyote, then it was switched to training replacement aircrew members that were deployed to combat units overseas. Initially, Pyote Army Airbase was assigned to Second Air Force, then in April 1944 to USAAF Continental Air Forces training command. Two main runways, each about 8,000 feet long and 150 feet wide, and a taxiway formed a triangle pattern on the flat, arid land. Construction of the facilities, including five large hangars, shops, warehouses and living quarters, began on 5 September 1942.