During World War II, the airport was known as Hanchung (Nancheng) Airfield and was used by the United States Army Air Forces Fourteenth Air Force as part of the China Defensive Campaign (1942–1945). It was used by the Americans as a photo-reconnaissance base for unarmed P-38 Lightning aerial reconnaissance planes, which flew over Japanese-held territory gathering intelligence for the Chinese ground forces.
During World War II, the airport was designated as Hanchung (Nancheng) Airfield and served as a base for the United States Army Air Forces Fourteenth Air Force during the China Defensive Campaign (1942–1945). The Americans utilized it as a photo-reconnaissance site for unarmed P-38 Lightning reconnaissance planes, which flew over Japanese-held areas to gather intelligence for Chinese ground forces.