The airfield was opened to the public on 12 August 1940. In May 1943, during World War II, the airport was requisitioned by the U.S. Army Air Forces, and was known as Vidalia-Lyons Army Airfield. Also known as Turner AAF Auxiliary Airfield No. 8, the airfield supported the elementary & advanced training in two-engine aircraft being conducted at Turner AAF.

The airfield was inactivated on 28 December 1944, and was declared surplus in 1946.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vidalia_Regional_Airport#:~:text=3%20multi%2Dengine.-,History,Turner%20AAF%20Auxiliary%20Airfield%20No.