Page "Edwards Air Force Base" Paragraph 52

Conscious that March Field was located in an area of increasing growth, and with the need for bombing and gunnery ranges for his units, base and 1st Wing commander Lieutenant Colonel Henry H. " Hap " Arnold began the process of acquiring land next to the Rogers dry lake for a new bombing range away from population areas in August 1932 ( the last tract was not acquired until 1939 ).

The facility established to support the range, initially referred to as " Mohave Field ," was Muroc Field.

At this time, another colorful character in Edwards ' history, Pancho Barnes, built her renowned Rancho Oro Verde Fly-Inn Dude Ranch that would be the scene of many parties and celebrations to come.

The dry lake was a hive of hot rodding, with racing on the dry lakes.

The runway that the Space Shuttle lands on follows the route that hosted racing in the 1930s.