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Location DB > Mariana Island > Commonwealth of the Northern M > Saipan > Japanese Aslito Airfield Ruins
 Name
Japanese Aslito Airfield Ruins
 Viewing Options
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 Database Info
created by blueblocker on 8/27/2008 10:08 AM
last modified by blueblocker on 8/9/2010 6:00 AM
 Viewability
Publically Viewable Publically Viewable
This location has been labeled by its creator as Public, and therefore can be viewed by anyone.
 Overview
 Description
Although the Saipan International Airport is still in use and the Americans built extensively during the war, many of the Japanese buildings remain because they were built to withstand bombs and air attack. Some structures, such as the munitions storage bunker were built so well that the Americans continued to use them.
 Basic Information
Type: Outdoors
Status: Abandoned
Accessibility: Easy
Recommendation: worth the trip
 Physical Information
Address

Saipan, Commonwealth of the Northern M
Mariana Island
Owner: CNMI and the Saipan Airport
  • See a map of this location
  •  Hazards
     Interesting Features
    There are many large buildings and bunkers including four large air raid shelters, a huge fuel storage bunker, an enormous munitions storage bunker, dozens of building ruins, and miscelaneous tanks, artillery, and machine guns - all Japanese.
     Security Measures
     Historical Dates
    Built: 1930
    Closed: 0
     Required Equipment
     Recommended Equipment

     History
    Saipan, along with all of the Mariana Islands, was originally a Spanish colony dating back to the late 1600s. After losing Guam as a consequence of the Spanish-American War, Spain sold the rest of the Marianas to Germany in 1899. Japan, siding with the Allies in WWI, conquered the Mariana Islands in 1914 (except Guam). In the 1930s, Japan began to build extensive military installations on Saipan including a large airfield. The Aslito Airfield was built to be the largest and most important airfield in the Marianas. Dozens of bunkers, storage facilities, and bomb proof buildings were carefully constructed. After WWII began, Japan used Aslito Airfield as a critical air supply center for offensives thousands of miles away accross the Central, South, and Eastern Pacific. By 1944, Japan was loosing the war and Saipan became the last line of defense for Japanese Homeland against air attack. On June 15, 1944, American forces invaded Saipan and began a bloody battle that would last several weeks. The Aslito Airfield became a raging battlefield and the bunkers and buildings became small fortresses. Japanese General Saito ordered the Aslito Airfield abandoned on June 18. After the Americans finally secured Saipan, the airfield was renamed Isley Field and converted and expanded for use by B-29 bombers to bomb Japan. Today, the area is still used as Saipan's International airport.
     Media Coverage

     Future Plans
    Many of the buildings and historic objects are maintained (the grass is mowed) for people to enjoy.
     Stories


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     Photo Galleries
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    August 2008
    Thu, Aug 28th, 2008
    posted by blueblocker
    25 pictures
     


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     Moderator Rating
    The moderator rating is a neutral rating of the content quality, photography, and coolness of this location.

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     Validation
    This location's validation is current. It was last validated by Opheliaism on 8/9/2010 8:47 AM.

     Latest Changes
  • on Aug 9 10 at 8:47, Opheliaism validated this location
  • on Aug 9 10 at 6:00, blueblocker changed the following: Province / State (please use full name), Country
  • on Oct 7 08 at 19:47, Opheliaism validated this location
  • on Oct 4 08 at 3:42, JC changed the following: Country
  • on Aug 29 08 at 1:52, Steed validated this location
  • on Aug 28 08 at 9:55, blueblocker changed the following: History
  • on Aug 28 08 at 8:37, blueblocker made this location available
  • on Aug 28 08 at 8:37, blueblocker changed the following: History, Year Closed
  • on Aug 28 08 at 8:33, blueblocker updated the main picture
  • on Aug 28 08 at 8:31, blueblocker updated gallery picture Bunker Interior
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