At the beginning of World War II, on March 31, 1942, the United States War Department authorized construction at Hondo of an Air Force Training School costing more than five million dollars. H.B. Zachry construction company was given 100 days to complete a self-sufficient airfield with utilities, streets, runways, taxiways, parking aprons, and all buildings. On July 4, 1942, Hondo Army Air Field was activated under Col. Linus D. Frederick. Completed at a cost of $7,215,933.66, the field occupied 3,661.5 acres, and many families had to give up their farms and homes. The navigation school was officially named the Army Air Force Navigation School, Hondo Army Air Field. In addition to the navigation school, the field also hosted glider pilot trainees, the Women's Army Auxiliary Corps, Women's Air Force Service pilots, and the B-29 Flight Engineer School. On July 16, 1945, the navigation school closed and Hondo Army Air Field was redesignated as the Army Air Force Flight Engineer School. On December 31, 1945, it was officially deactivated. During its three and a half years of operation, approximately 14,000 navigators, 3000 glider pilots, and 300 B-29 flight engineers were trained, while more than 10,000 other military personnel and 6000 civilians were involved in operating the base. Hondo Army Air Field brought economic and cultural changes to Medina County.