Surrounded by highways, a railroad and a cemetery, the airport was unable to expand to meet increasing demands for air travel, especially those from the military as World War II loomed. The airport was used for army training in 1940 and an anti-aircraft battery was installed. "The ladies of the neighborhood lavished the soldiers with pies and cakes." according to a 12-year-old boy at the time. Commercial flights were moved to the newly Army constructed Raleigh-Durham Airport 12 miles to the north.
