Conversation so far:
is there a military base in gainesville fl
Alachua Army Airfield, was a World War II United States Army Air Force airfield, located 4.2 miles northeast of Gainesville, Florida.
when did Alachua Army Airfield stop being used
The War Assets Administration deeded the facility to the city of Gainesville in 1948 as a civil airport.
are planes still being flown out of Alachua Army Airfield
Alachua Army Air Field now operates as Gainesville Regional Airport, with scheduled airline flights and General Aviation operations.

Question: what was the function of the base
Self-contained rewrite: what was the function of Alachua Army Airfield during World War II