The United States acquired the site, consisting of a total of approximately 47.6 acres (40.2 acres leasehold from the State of Connecticut and 7.4 acres permit from a private owner) by purchase in 1944 and 1945. The Navy used the island for practice dive bombing runs at an existing barn on the island and for machine gun practice.

The Navy’ s use of the island ended sometime in 1945. The leasehold and permit were terminated at this time. The State of Connecticut, Department of Parks and Recreation now owns the entire island. The State uses the island for a public hunting and fishing area. consisting of 47.6 acres, is located on a small island near Stonington, Connecticut, in New London County, west of the Rhode Island state line. A bombing target within the Range is three miles south of Clarks Village on the southern tip of Barn Island. The Pawcatuck River passes the site on the east. Access to the bomb target area of the Range was by foot after crossing a marsh area.