The Black Rock Desert Gunnery Range began in 1942 in of the Black Rock Desert and was used for World War II USAAF aerial gunnery training. The range was re-activated in October 1945 when the United States Navy closed more than to the public for two regions of the Lovelock Aerial Gunnery Range (the North Region was in the Black Rock Desert area). After a 1955 request by congressman Clair Engle, the Black Rock Desert Gunnery Range was closed by 1964.