U.S. Air Force, Navy Restore Historic WWII-Era Airfield in the Pacific

Tinian airfield was used as a launching point for B-29 bombers targeting Imperial Japan, including the 'Enola Gay.'

Kimberly Johnson

Friday, March 07, 2025 at 11:04 AM ET

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Edited By: tccjeremy

Boeing B-29 ‘Enola Gay’ on Tinian in the Mariana Islands. [Credit: U.S. Air Force]

Key Takeaways:

U.S. military engineers are restoring the historic World War II North Field Air Base on Tinian for operations in the Indo-Pacific.
The $409 million, five-year project involves clearing vegetation, removing WWII-era ordnance, and paving, marking the first military asphalt laid on Tinian in decades.
The renewed airfield will serve as an alternate location for flight operations, enhancing operational flexibility and resilience for American forces under the Agile Combat Employment doctrine.
Tinian, once home to the world's largest airfield and a crucial B-29 launching point in WWII, retains significant strategic value for projecting power in the Pacific.

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U.S. Air Force engineers, U.S. Navy Seabees, and U.S. Marine engineer teams have reclaimed a historic World War II airfield from jungle growth in the Western Pacific for use for operations for American forces throughout the Indo-Pacific.

The airfield at North Field Air Base on the isle of Tinian is being improved as an alternate location for flight operations at nearby Andersen Air Force Base, Guam, should the primary airfield become unsustainable in a time of war, according to Pacific Air Forces (PACAF).