| Orote Peninsula and Naval Base Guam Part VI |
| Orote Airfield Built for the Japanese by forced Chamorro and Korean labor, then taken by the Marines. |
The Japanese did not select the most
advantageous site for an airfield; the
runway could only run north-west to
south-east. However, it was on an
easily defensible postion. When
Marine Air Group 21 arrived after
the Liberation, they built a second
runway perpendicular to the first.
At the end of the point, past the
runway, is the foundation for a gun
that was removed to accomdate the
Japanese during the 1921
Washington Naval Treaty. The field
is still in use for Special Ops and
other training. 2 Aug 04.
advantageous site for an airfield; the
runway could only run north-west to
south-east. However, it was on an
easily defensible postion. When
Marine Air Group 21 arrived after
the Liberation, they built a second
runway perpendicular to the first.
At the end of the point, past the
runway, is the foundation for a gun
that was removed to accomdate the
Japanese during the 1921
Washington Naval Treaty. The field
is still in use for Special Ops and
other training. 2 Aug 04.
(Left) The Orote Airfield during the fight. The white splotches are all
pock-marks and craters caused by American bombs. (Below) The airfield in
1945 near the war's end. Marine F-4U Corsairs, like the wreck on Part 1 of
this section, sit at the near end of the runway. Apra Inner Harbor is at the top
of the picture. Photos courtesy Naval Base Guam Museum.
pock-marks and craters caused by American bombs. (Below) The airfield in
1945 near the war's end. Marine F-4U Corsairs, like the wreck on Part 1 of
this section, sit at the near end of the runway. Apra Inner Harbor is at the top
of the picture. Photos courtesy Naval Base Guam Museum.
| The Marine Barracks Lost in 1941, recaptured in 1944. |
(Left) Using the above 1944 photo as a reference to show
the location of the Marine Barracks. (Below) an
unidentified group of 3rd Division Marines stand with the
recaptured plaque from the Marine Barracks. Photo
courtesy of Naval Base Guam Museum.
the location of the Marine Barracks. (Below) an
unidentified group of 3rd Division Marines stand with the
recaptured plaque from the Marine Barracks. Photo
courtesy of Naval Base Guam Museum.
(Left) Site of the Marine Barracks as it looks today. In the
background are the Dental Clinic and Fleet & Family
Support Center. Eventually the flagpoles and pillar in the
center will be incorporated into the design of a new
Department of Defense Education Activity school that will
be built on the site. 2 Aug. 04.
background are the Dental Clinic and Fleet & Family
Support Center. Eventually the flagpoles and pillar in the
center will be incorporated into the design of a new
Department of Defense Education Activity school that will
be built on the site. 2 Aug. 04.
(Left) The memorial pillar, placed here during the 50th anniversary of the Liberation.
(Above) On the oppostie side of the flagpole base you are looking at in the wide-angle
photo is a list of the Marines who died defending Guam during the 1941 invasion.
2 Aug. 04.
(Above) On the oppostie side of the flagpole base you are looking at in the wide-angle
photo is a list of the Marines who died defending Guam during the 1941 invasion.
2 Aug. 04.
| Gab Gab Beach Now a recreation spot. |
Only two gun emplacements (and the partial
remains of a third) are left on Gab Gab
Beach. Once heavily fortified by the
Japanese, most of these bunkers were
destroyed when the Sea Bees turned Gab
Grab into a recreation spot in 1944-45.
These are the gun ports of the bunker on the
western end of the beach.
2 Aug. 04.
remains of a third) are left on Gab Gab
Beach. Once heavily fortified by the
Japanese, most of these bunkers were
destroyed when the Sea Bees turned Gab
Grab into a recreation spot in 1944-45.
These are the gun ports of the bunker on the
western end of the beach.
2 Aug. 04.
Believe it or not, but in the photo at right you are looking
through the thick jungle growth to the remains of the eastern
bunker. The photo below was taken much closer to the gun
port, but the vegetation is still heavy enough to make it a
difficult image to understand (and the photo doesn't show the
spiders and mosquitos!). If you look at the right side of the
gun port, you'll see greenish paint. This is actually a remnant
of the cameoflage paint the Japanese painted these bunkers
with. If you look carefully when visitng both the western and
eastern bunkers, you'll find many traces of this paint. 2 Aug.
04.
through the thick jungle growth to the remains of the eastern
bunker. The photo below was taken much closer to the gun
port, but the vegetation is still heavy enough to make it a
difficult image to understand (and the photo doesn't show the
spiders and mosquitos!). If you look at the right side of the
gun port, you'll see greenish paint. This is actually a remnant
of the cameoflage paint the Japanese painted these bunkers
with. If you look carefully when visitng both the western and
eastern bunkers, you'll find many traces of this paint. 2 Aug.
04.
| Navy Memorial Quiet park on a hillside. |
If you need me to explain this one to you, then you are far, far beyond my help.
2 Aug. 04.
2 Aug. 04.