 Conscious that March Field was located in an area of increasing growth in Riverside County, 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 Muroc Dry Lake for a new bombing range away from populated areas in August 1932; the last tract was not acquired until 1939.The facility established to support the range, initially called "Mohave Field" for the nearby community of Mohave, was Muroc Field.In October 1935, five men under a Sergeant Folgleman were sent to the area from March Field.