 On June 27, 1940, Congress transferred the 340,890 acres (1380 km²) of the Choctawhatchee from the Forest Service to the War Department (and subsequently to its successor's constituent United States Department of the Air Force) for military purposes.The law provided that the land might be restored to national forest status by proclamation or order of the President when it was no longer needed for military purposes.It has been home to Eglin Air Force Base since.