 The United States Army Corps of Engineers, using funds made available by Congress through the Civil Aeronautics Authority, constructed three long, hard-surface runways at the airport to accommodate army aircraft.In January 1943, Galveston Army Air Field was officially activated with the 46th Bombardment Group serving an anti-submarine role in the Gulf of Mexico.Later it was replaced by the 10th anti-submarine squadron, flying RM-37 Lockheed Venturas.