| Koblerville - Old Kobler Field The ghost of an airstrip |
The only remains of Kobler Field are the name
of the Koblerville area and the asphalt runway,
seen here.
Named for Lt. Wayne F. Kobler, who died
while striking Tinian in June 1944, this field
saw a multi-purpose role: it was a Naval
Refresher Training Center, it was used as an
Air Transport Center, and B-25 Mitchell
Bombers, attached to the 30th Bomb Group,
U.S. Army Air Forces operated from here.
Today Koblerville is a subdivision of housing.
Michael and I were planning on stopping here
from the off, but accidentally came across the
old runway while driving to Agingan Point.
March 2005.
of the Koblerville area and the asphalt runway,
seen here.
Named for Lt. Wayne F. Kobler, who died
while striking Tinian in June 1944, this field
saw a multi-purpose role: it was a Naval
Refresher Training Center, it was used as an
Air Transport Center, and B-25 Mitchell
Bombers, attached to the 30th Bomb Group,
U.S. Army Air Forces operated from here.
Today Koblerville is a subdivision of housing.
Michael and I were planning on stopping here
from the off, but accidentally came across the
old runway while driving to Agingan Point.
March 2005.
| Agingan Point Articles of war turned into plowshares.... |
Agingan Point was a heavily fortified area in 1944 (of course, what part of these islands wasn't a heavily fortified area in
1944?). Today the lovely Coral Ocean Point Resort occupies most of the area. With its world-class golf course, you
woulnd't think much in the way of war relics would have been retained. However, the resort has cleverly preserved the
past by incorporating many of the war features into the modern golf course. This is private property, and you need to get
permission from the resort's Golf Pro Supervisor before traipsing out. Michael and I were given a brief but intensive tour
by a couple of the pros. Just north of this is a public park with more war features you can explore on your own.
Photo by Michael Ventura, March 2005.
1944?). Today the lovely Coral Ocean Point Resort occupies most of the area. With its world-class golf course, you
woulnd't think much in the way of war relics would have been retained. However, the resort has cleverly preserved the
past by incorporating many of the war features into the modern golf course. This is private property, and you need to get
permission from the resort's Golf Pro Supervisor before traipsing out. Michael and I were given a brief but intensive tour
by a couple of the pros. Just north of this is a public park with more war features you can explore on your own.
Photo by Michael Ventura, March 2005.
If you are fortunate enough to score a couple of
really cool young golf pros and a relatively empty
course, you can easily spend an hour here. The
golf-cart tour started with the 8th Tee House (right).
The resort used a restored Japanese bunker for the
tee. In an irony common to the Pacific, the majority
of the golfers teeing off from atop this old
fortification are Japanese citizens.
Nearby in the cliff line are several Japanese caves.
The inset photo is Mike seen through the small gun
port window (below). March 2005.
really cool young golf pros and a relatively empty
course, you can easily spend an hour here. The
golf-cart tour started with the 8th Tee House (right).
The resort used a restored Japanese bunker for the
tee. In an irony common to the Pacific, the majority
of the golfers teeing off from atop this old
fortification are Japanese citizens.
Nearby in the cliff line are several Japanese caves.
The inset photo is Mike seen through the small gun
port window (below). March 2005.
Above: One of our golf
pros-turned-tour-guides shows us
the entrance to another cave
complex hidden in the brush.
pros-turned-tour-guides shows us
the entrance to another cave
complex hidden in the brush.
The 16th hole has a major patch of rough
along it; a rough you would not want to
lose a ball in this stretch.
Probing into the vegetation, our guide here
reveals that this hillock in the 16th's rough
is actually another Japanese bunker. This
one is a quonset-style building. March '05.
Below: Me (in the hat) and our other
guide look into the deserted bunker.
Below photo by Mike, March 05.
along it; a rough you would not want to
lose a ball in this stretch.
Probing into the vegetation, our guide here
reveals that this hillock in the 16th's rough
is actually another Japanese bunker. This
one is a quonset-style building. March '05.
Below: Me (in the hat) and our other
guide look into the deserted bunker.
Below photo by Mike, March 05.
One of the resort's most striking
relics is this large, German-style
circular blockhouse. Looking out
over the 5-mile wide channel that
separates Saipan and Tinian, the
blockhouse has four chambers and
was armed with four 20mm guns.
Above: Mike, walking outside the
blockhouse, gives you an idea of
its size. March 2005.
relics is this large, German-style
circular blockhouse. Looking out
over the 5-mile wide channel that
separates Saipan and Tinian, the
blockhouse has four chambers and
was armed with four 20mm guns.
Above: Mike, walking outside the
blockhouse, gives you an idea of
its size. March 2005.
Mike (left) and
me (below)
inside the old
blockhouse.
I'm 6'3" tall, and
I was able to
stand upright
inside it with
extra head- room
to spare.
me (below)
inside the old
blockhouse.
I'm 6'3" tall, and
I was able to
stand upright
inside it with
extra head- room
to spare.
In this photo you can see two of the four chambers inside the
blockhouse. The structure to the right is a cylindrical locker built
in the center of the blockhouse. Graffiti gives evidence that
Mike and I weren't the first to enter since WWII. March '05.
blockhouse. The structure to the right is a cylindrical locker built
in the center of the blockhouse. Graffiti gives evidence that
Mike and I weren't the first to enter since WWII. March '05.
| Beach Road A drive north through much history |
Beach Road runs up Saipan's west coast from Agingan Point to the capital village of Garapan. Must like Guam's Marine
Corps Drive, Beach Road is the primary artery for most of Saipan's traffic. A drive north up the road to Garapan will bring
you past several historical sites.
Corps Drive, Beach Road is the primary artery for most of Saipan's traffic. A drive north up the road to Garapan will bring
you past several historical sites.
The 2nd & 4th Marine Divisions and the
Army's 27th Infantry Division began the
assault on Saipan by landing from Agingan
Point to the village of San Jose. Here you can
see the wreck of an American Sherman tank,
its turret missing, sticking above the water's
surface off the village of San Antonio (more
on these later). March 2005.
Army's 27th Infantry Division began the
assault on Saipan by landing from Agingan
Point to the village of San Jose. Here you can
see the wreck of an American Sherman tank,
its turret missing, sticking above the water's
surface off the village of San Antonio (more
on these later). March 2005.
Veterans of the 4th Marine Division dedicated this simple
monument to their fallen comrades. Located on the grounds of
the Pacific Islands Club, the monument over looks the formerly
bloody beach, which is now, again, a tropical paradise. Mar. '05.
Below: The first wave of Marines hits the beach on 15 June,
1944. U.S. Navy photo by Marine Sgt. James Burns.
monument to their fallen comrades. Located on the grounds of
the Pacific Islands Club, the monument over looks the formerly
bloody beach, which is now, again, a tropical paradise. Mar. '05.
Below: The first wave of Marines hits the beach on 15 June,
1944. U.S. Navy photo by Marine Sgt. James Burns.
Above: The beaches today. Click the
image for a larger view.
Right: A dead Japanese soldier lies in
the surf during the 1944 American
invasion. In the background are
American ships bringing more troops
and Marines, and the shore of the island
of Tinian can be seen on the horizon on
the left. U.S. Navy photo by Marine
Cpl Angus Robertson.
image for a larger view.
Right: A dead Japanese soldier lies in
the surf during the 1944 American
invasion. In the background are
American ships bringing more troops
and Marines, and the shore of the island
of Tinian can be seen on the horizon on
the left. U.S. Navy photo by Marine
Cpl Angus Robertson.
