Because of its proximity to Philadelphia, the Army airfield outside the quaint little town of Millville, NJ was named America's First Defense Airport in August 1941. Between 1942 and 1945, the airfield employed more than 10,000 men and women, and its gunnery school provided advanced fighter training to 1,500 pilots. The airfield was abandoned after World War II, and Millville returned to its sleepy-town status.