With the discovery of bauxite deposits in northeast Brazil in 1943, the mission of the airfield was expanded to protect the coastline of northeast South America and prevent any submarine landings by Axis forces on the continent.
The expansion of the airfield's mission in 1943 was triggered by the discovery of bauxite deposits in northeast Brazil, which aimed to safeguard the coastline of northeastern South America and thwart Axis submarine landings on the continent.