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 North Field Air Base on Tinian, a historic World War II airfield in the Western Pacific, through a $409 million, five-year project.
The airfield's restoration will provide an alternate location for U.S. flight operations, enhancing flexibility and resilience for American forces in the Indo-Pacific.
This project is a key component of the U.S. Indo-Pacific Command's strategy to disperse combat power across multiple operating locations, reducing reliance on fixed bases.

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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).