Freeman Field was activated in December 1942 as a U.S. Army Air Forces advanced training school for World War II twin engined pilots and graduated over 4000 by February 1945. Construction of 413 structures and four 5,500-foot runways was supervised by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, and the field was named for Indiana pilot Captain Richard S. Freeman (1907-1941). It was deactivated in 1948.