Operation Forager, the battle for the strategic Marianas Islands, was joined on 15 June 1944. Saipan was invaded on June
15th, Guam on July 21, and then Tinian on July 24, 1944. The Japanese garrisons on Rota, Aguiguan, and the northern
islands were cut off and left to starve.
The United States needed these islands as bases for the giant B-29 Super Fortress bombers that were being turned by
Boeing. In addition, Guam was a pride issue, as it had been an American territory before the 1941 Japanese invasion.
Saipan and the northern Marianas had been taken by Germany from Spain at the beginning of the 20th Century. They
were mandated to Japan by the new League of Nations after the end of World War I in 1919.
Today the Commonwealth of Northern Marianas Island (CNMI) is a self-governing commonwealth in political union with
the United States. Saipan proudly maintains is historical sites and war legacy.
Project Saipan is not as extensive as is Project Guam, the central Marianas war project on this site. Over the space of a
year I was able to make three visits to the island, along with two different traveling companions. I hope this site will
encourage others to visit these remarkable and beautiful places sitting in the middle of the Pacific.
References Used: The following books were invaluable in preparing for these expeditions and this website:
-World War II Remnants: A Guide & History, 2nd Edition. Dave Lotz, Arizona Memorial Museum Association. 1998.
-Pacific Legacy: Image and Memory for World War II in the Pacific. Rex Alan Smith & Gerald A. Meehl. Abbeville
Press Publishers, 116 West 23rd St, New York, NY 10011. 2002.
-Flyboys. James Bradley. Little, Brown, and Company, New York. 2003.
-Battle for Saipan: The True Story of an American Hero--Lt. Col. William J. O'Brien. Francis A. O'Brien. A Presidio
Press Book, published by the Ballantine Publishing Group, New York. 2003.
15th, Guam on July 21, and then Tinian on July 24, 1944. The Japanese garrisons on Rota, Aguiguan, and the northern
islands were cut off and left to starve.
The United States needed these islands as bases for the giant B-29 Super Fortress bombers that were being turned by
Boeing. In addition, Guam was a pride issue, as it had been an American territory before the 1941 Japanese invasion.
Saipan and the northern Marianas had been taken by Germany from Spain at the beginning of the 20th Century. They
were mandated to Japan by the new League of Nations after the end of World War I in 1919.
Today the Commonwealth of Northern Marianas Island (CNMI) is a self-governing commonwealth in political union with
the United States. Saipan proudly maintains is historical sites and war legacy.
Project Saipan is not as extensive as is Project Guam, the central Marianas war project on this site. Over the space of a
year I was able to make three visits to the island, along with two different traveling companions. I hope this site will
encourage others to visit these remarkable and beautiful places sitting in the middle of the Pacific.
References Used: The following books were invaluable in preparing for these expeditions and this website:
-World War II Remnants: A Guide & History, 2nd Edition. Dave Lotz, Arizona Memorial Museum Association. 1998.
-Pacific Legacy: Image and Memory for World War II in the Pacific. Rex Alan Smith & Gerald A. Meehl. Abbeville
Press Publishers, 116 West 23rd St, New York, NY 10011. 2002.
-Flyboys. James Bradley. Little, Brown, and Company, New York. 2003.
-Battle for Saipan: The True Story of an American Hero--Lt. Col. William J. O'Brien. Francis A. O'Brien. A Presidio
Press Book, published by the Ballantine Publishing Group, New York. 2003.
The intrepid explorers. Above: Myself, Nathanael Miller,
sitting on a Sherman tank in Garapan Harbor, March 2006.
Upper Left: My buddy Mike Ventura, who accompanied me
on the main 2005 expedition.
Lower Left: My friend Steve Copp, who came along on the
2006 expedition.
sitting on a Sherman tank in Garapan Harbor, March 2006.
Upper Left: My buddy Mike Ventura, who accompanied me
on the main 2005 expedition.
Lower Left: My friend Steve Copp, who came along on the
2006 expedition.
This map shows the general location of the sites documented (this is by no means an exhaustive
survey of Saipan war sites). This digital tour of Saipan's war history will start at the Saipan
International Airport, and then move west to Koblerville and Agingan Point, and then north to
Banzai Cliff and Suicide Cliff before swinging you down south along the eastern coast to Kalabera
Cave.
survey of Saipan war sites). This digital tour of Saipan's war history will start at the Saipan
International Airport, and then move west to Koblerville and Agingan Point, and then north to
Banzai Cliff and Suicide Cliff before swinging you down south along the eastern coast to Kalabera
Cave.
| Saipan International Airport Originally Aslito Field; Formerly Isely Field |
If you look to your right as you exit the main terminal
and head to the shuttle bus for your hotel, you'll see this
unimposing structure. This little building began life as
the Japanese Air Operations Building.
Aslito Field was constructed by the Japanese in 1934;
this building dates sometime after that year. When the
U.S. took the island in 1944, the field was renamed Isely
Field in honor of Navy Commander Robert H. Isely,
who was killed in June 1943 while strafing this very
strip. The Air Ops building was put back into service by
the Americans as (you guessed it) an Air Operations
Building. This sturdy concrete structure is still in use by
the airport. Around the airport are numerous ruins and
structures (some, like this one, still used today). March
2005.
and head to the shuttle bus for your hotel, you'll see this
unimposing structure. This little building began life as
the Japanese Air Operations Building.
Aslito Field was constructed by the Japanese in 1934;
this building dates sometime after that year. When the
U.S. took the island in 1944, the field was renamed Isely
Field in honor of Navy Commander Robert H. Isely,
who was killed in June 1943 while strafing this very
strip. The Air Ops building was put back into service by
the Americans as (you guessed it) an Air Operations
Building. This sturdy concrete structure is still in use by
the airport. Around the airport are numerous ruins and
structures (some, like this one, still used today). March
2005.
Above: The Air Ops building after being
taken by American forces in 1944. Left:
American G.I.'s walk past a Japanese air
raid shelter (like those below) and a wrecked
hangar. Official U.S. Government photos.
taken by American forces in 1944. Left:
American G.I.'s walk past a Japanese air
raid shelter (like those below) and a wrecked
hangar. Official U.S. Government photos.
Along the road to the airport are three
Japanese-built air raid shelters, two of which
are shown here (see panorama below). More
can be seen along the runway as your plane
taxis in to the terminal. March 2005.
Japanese-built air raid shelters, two of which
are shown here (see panorama below). More
can be seen along the runway as your plane
taxis in to the terminal. March 2005.
In these aerial shots, you can see two more
air raid shelters like those pictured above.
Also, in the photo at left, you can see the
ruins of a Japanese air field building and
some circular concrete structures that were
part of the old water system. March '05.
air raid shelters like those pictured above.
Also, in the photo at left, you can see the
ruins of a Japanese air field building and
some circular concrete structures that were
part of the old water system. March '05.
Another aerial shot puts the two above
photos into context with the modern
control tower and fire station. To see
these structures, just look north as you
fly in...or fly out. A sharp eye will spot
them. All the structures mentioned in
the caption immediately above are
highlighted below. March '05.
photos into context with the modern
control tower and fire station. To see
these structures, just look north as you
fly in...or fly out. A sharp eye will spot
them. All the structures mentioned in
the caption immediately above are
highlighted below. March '05.
Right: A destroyed Japanese bomber
on newly-renamed Isley Field, 1944.
Photo courtesy National Archives.
on newly-renamed Isley Field, 1944.
Photo courtesy National Archives.
Isley Field was a scene of devastation
immediately after the battle in June 1944
(above). However, the SeaBees quickly
cleared and expanded it for the giant
B-29 bombers. At right you can see
thousands of B-29's parked at Isley Field
between missions in 1944 or '45. Photos
courtesy U.S. Navy.
immediately after the battle in June 1944
(above). However, the SeaBees quickly
cleared and expanded it for the giant
B-29 bombers. At right you can see
thousands of B-29's parked at Isley Field
between missions in 1944 or '45. Photos
courtesy U.S. Navy.
These ruins are preserved pretty much as
they looked the day the bombs stopped
falling. The building above has no roof,
doors, or windows. The building at right still
displays its shell holes. June 2005.
they looked the day the bombs stopped
falling. The building above has no roof,
doors, or windows. The building at right still
displays its shell holes. June 2005.
Originally built by the Japanese as a
power plant bunker, these structures
(across the street from the airport) were
used as typhoon shelters by the
Americans, and today serve as the HQ
of the American Red Cross. June '05.
power plant bunker, these structures
(across the street from the airport) were
used as typhoon shelters by the
Americans, and today serve as the HQ
of the American Red Cross. June '05.
This row of markers commemorates
the Army's 27th Infantry Division, the
73rd Bombardment Wing, and Isely
Field itself as a National Historic
Landmark. A smaller plaque (right)
notes that this monument was moved
to this site from their original location in
1991. June '05.
the Army's 27th Infantry Division, the
73rd Bombardment Wing, and Isely
Field itself as a National Historic
Landmark. A smaller plaque (right)
notes that this monument was moved
to this site from their original location in
1991. June '05.
A row of Japanese memorials sits in the sun next to an earth-covered bunker,
most likely a bomb storage bunker. June 2005.
most likely a bomb storage bunker. June 2005.
