American > Battle of Saipan > Aircraft Page 1

The airport in Saipan was originally called As Lito Field during the Japanese occupation and was among the first objectives for the U.S. Marines landing on Invasion Beach a mile to the west. Construction to repair the airfield began immediately with fierce fighting on all sides of the runway. The American soldiers used the existing buildings for the same purpose as the Japanese soldiers did the day before. 24 hour-a-day construction continued throughout the Battle of Saipan to add a second runway and increase the length of the runways to accommodate the American B-29 bombers. Saipan and Tinian island to the south were turned into a huge U.S. air base and was the busiest airport in the world. The air bases helped to bring a quick end to WWII.

Click the thumbnails for the larger pictures and comments. Also see Page 2.

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Also see Aircraft Page 2.
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