1930s – Built and named Portsmouth Municipal Airport.

1941 – Improvements to the airport were announced as a result of the onset of World War II.

1942 – Closed to civilian traffic under defense measures.

1944 – Released to the US Navy who had a presence at the Portsmouth Naval Shipyard.

1951 – US Air Force assumed control and was selected as a Strategic Air Command (SAC) Base.

1952 – 1956 – purchased additional land and expanded the base; renamed Portsmouth Air Force Base.

1957 – Renamed Pease Air Force Base in honor of NH native Captain Harl Pease, Jr., USAAC, awarded Medal of Honor for heroism during WWII.

1961 – 1962 – During this time, the base received consideration as a potential site for Minuteman missile deployments.

1966 – The New Hampshire National Guard, previously located in Manchester, relocated to Pease Air Force Base.

1988 – Pease Air Force Base was one of the 86 military installations to be closed as part of the Secretary of Defense’s Base Realignment and Closure process.

1989 – Over 3,000 active-duty military personnel were employed at Pease Air Force Base, 49 of which were assigned to the Air National Guard.

1991 – Pease Air Force Base officially closed.

The majority of Pease Air Force Base was transferred to the Pease Development Authority which operates Pease International Tradeport including Portsmouth International Airport at Pease.

– The remaining part of the former Pease Air Force Base was transferred to the New Hampshire Air National Guard, and later renamed Pease Air National Guard Base.

– These days, Portsmouth International Airport at Pease is used by a mix of military and commercial jets and general aviation aircraft.

https://www.chiaerospace.com/post/the-history-of-portsmouth-international-airport