Saipan International Airport#World War II

Saipan International Airport was a sugarcane field before the Imperial Japanese Navy Air Service (IJNAS) constructed a temporary landing field on the site in 1933. The landing field was used for training purposes and had two runways configured in an "L" pattern. In 1937, the Navy began upgrading the airfield for full military use, despite an international law ban on constructing military facilities within the South Seas Mandate. Following the attack against the United States in 1941, the field was named Aslito Field (アスリート飛行場), based on the indigenous Chamoru name for the area of its location, As Lito.

The IJNAS assigned two squadrons of Mitsubishi A6M5a-52 Zeros to the airfield in mid-June 1944. These squadrons took part in the occupation of the Mariana Islands during the Battle of the Philippine Sea later that month, being almost wiped out by the American forces during the battle.{{Citation needed|date=April 2010}}

The airfield was captured by the United States Army 27th Infantry Division on June 18, 1944, during the Battle of Saipan. During the battle, a Zero from Guam actually landed at Aslito Airfield, the pilot being unaware that the field was under American control. As it landed, the aircraft was fired at and damaged, crashing at the end of the runway. The pilot survived and the plane was captured. The field was renamed Isely Field after United States Navy Commander Robert H. Isely who was killed on June 13, 1944, while strafing the base.{{cite book

| last = Hammel

| first = Eric

| author-link = Eric M. Hammel

| date = 2010-01-22

| title = Air War Pacific: Chronology: America's Air War Against Japan in East Asia and the Pacific, 1941–1945

| url = https://books.google.com/books?isbn=1890988103

| location = Pacifica, California

| publisher = Pacifica Military History

| page = 383

| isbn = 978-1890988104

}}

Once in American hands, Isely Field was quickly repaired and expanded by Seabees of the 3rd Battalion 20th Marines, to become Naval Advance Base Saipan.Saipan, Building the Navy's Bases in World War II, History of the Bureau of Yards and Docks and the Civil Engineer Corps, 1940-1946, Volume II, UNITED STATES GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE, WASHINGTON, 1947, p.340 [https://www.ibiblio.org/hyperwar/USN/Building_Bases/bases-28.html] with the first P 47s of the 19th fighter Squadron landing on the 20th. The airfield was assigned to Twentieth Air Force B-29 Superfortress operations. The XXI Bomber Command had overall responsibility of the B-29 operations out of the Marianas bases, and Isely Field was to be used by the 73rd Bombardment Wing (which consisted of the 497th, 498th, 499th, and 500th Bombardment Groups).Peacock Air International August 1989, p. 87.

On October 12, 1944, the first B-29 Joltin Josie The Pacific Pioneer piloted by Brigadier General Haywood S. Hansell commanding General of XXI Bomber Command and copiloted by Major Jack J Catton of the 873d Bombardment Squadron arrived at Isely Field. By November 22, over 100 B-29s were at Isely. The XXI Bomber Command was assigned the task of destroying the aircraft industry of Japan in a series of high-altitude, daylight precision attacks.{{Citation needed|date=April 2010}}

After several months of disappointing high level bombing attacks from Isely (and the other Twentieth Air Force airfields on Guam and Tinian), General Curtis LeMay, Commander of Twentieth Air Force issued a new directive that the high-altitude, daylight attacks be phased out and replaced by low-altitude, high-intensity incendiary raids at nighttime, being followed up with high explosive bombs once the targets were set ablaze. These nighttime attacks on Japan proved devastatingly effective, and the Superfortress missions from Isely Field led to massive destruction of industrial targets in Japan, with large industrial areas of Tokyo, Nagoya, and Osaka being repeatedly attacked by waves of American bombers flying from the Marianas until the war's end.{{Citation needed|date=April 2010}} In response to these attacks, most of the Japanese air attacks on the Mariana Islands between November 1944 and January 1945 targeted Isely Field.

The airfield and surviving World War II facilities were listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1981 as the "Isely Field Historic District", and are a contributing element of the National Historic Landmark District Landing Beaches; Aslito/Isely Field; & Marpi Point, Saipan Island, which was designated in 1985.

With the end of the war the wing's four bomb groups were all returned to the United States, with their B-29s either being flown to Clark Air Base in the Philippines for scrapping, or were flown to storage facilities in Texas or Arizona. The 73d Bomb Wing was reassigned to the United States in December 1945. The airfield was returned to civil control and it reverted to being called Aslito Field.{{Citation needed|date=April 2010}}

File:Saipan International airport (31037379131).jpg

Saipan International Airport commenced operation on July 25, 1976, taking over from the nearby Kobler Field.{{cite web

| url = http://www.cpa.gov.mp/

| title = History

| publisher = Commonwealth Ports Authority

| access-date = May 28, 2013

| archive-date = July 18, 2011

| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20110718075546/http://www.cpa.gov.mp/

| url-status = dead

}} Continental Micronesia (originally Air Micronesia)"[http://www.gao.gov/new.items/d10778t.pdf GAO-10-778T Issues Raised by the Proposed Merger of United and Continental Airlines]." Government Accountability Office. Page 4. Retrieved on October 7, 2010. initially had its main hub at Kobler Field and then Saipan Airport. As time passed, the airline's general traffic to and from Saipan had decreased due to the breakup of the Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands; because the territory was subdivided into smaller political units, fewer people needed to travel to Saipan, the former capital of the trust territory.Vergara, Jaime R. "[http://www.saipantribune.com/newsstory.aspx?newsID=81817&cat=3 Celebrating the de-inauguration of CO 895] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120323152107/http://www.saipantribune.com/newsstory.aspx?newsID=81817&cat=3 |date=March 23, 2012 }}." (Opinion page) Saipan Tribune. Monday July 21, 2008. Retrieved on October 13, 2010. On July 15, 2008, the airline's Manila-Saipan flight, the final remaining Continental Micronesia directly operated flight, ended.Deposa, Moneth G. [http://www.mvarietynews.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=6614:continental-shuts-down-saipan-office&catid=1:local-news&Itemid=2 Continental shuts down Saipan office]." Marianas Variety News & Views. July 17, 2008. Retrieved on February 25, 2009.

Japanese tourists began visiting Saipan in large numbers during the 1970s. The airfield and terminal were significantly upgraded in 1975 to handle widebody aircraft.

Northwest Airlines historically served Saipan from Tokyo-Narita using McDonnell Douglas DC-10 and Boeing 747 aircraft,{{Cite news|url=https://www.saipantribune.com/index.php/9506e5d8-1dfb-11e4-aedf-250bc8c9958e/|title=Northwest's B747 flies to Saipan|date=1999-10-04|work=Saipan Tribune|access-date=2018-07-26|language=en-US}} while Japan Airlines (JAL) served Saipan from Narita and Osaka-Kansai using DC-10 and Boeing 767 aircraft respectively.{{Cite news|url=https://www.radionz.co.nz/international/pacific-news/158259/japan-airlines-to-close-northern-marianas-office-at-month's-end|title=Japan Airlines to close Northern Marianas office at month's end|date=2005-10-25|work=Radio New Zealand|access-date=2018-07-26|language=en-nz}} In 2005, JAL suspended its services from Japan to SPN; routes to Osaka and Nagoya were taken over by Northwest.{{cite web |url=http://www.saipantribune.com/newsstory.aspx?cat=1&newsID=48249 |title=Saipan Tribune |access-date=2010-06-25 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120308204800/http://www.saipantribune.com/newsstory.aspx?cat=1&newsID=48249 |archive-date=March 8, 2012 |df=mdy-all }} The airport was also renamed after former Lt. Gov. Francisco C. Ada that year.{{cite web |url=http://www.saipantribune.com/newsstory.aspx?cat=1&newsID=45950 |title=Saipan Tribune |access-date=2010-03-21 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120308204540/http://www.saipantribune.com/newsstory.aspx?cat=1&newsID=45950 |archive-date=March 8, 2012 |df=mdy-all }}

Delta Air Lines inherited Northwest's Saipan routes following its acquisition of Northwest in 2008. In 2018, Delta decided to withdraw from the Saipan market, simultaneously with terminating its service to Palau and one month after ending its service to Guam. Delta cited lower demand, as well as needs for additional Boeing 757 aircraft on domestic US flights, as reasons for the withdrawal. Northwest and Delta served Saipan for a total of 29 years.{{Cite news|url=https://www.saipantribune.com/index.php/delta-end-flights-saipan-palau/|title=Delta to end flights to Saipan, Palau|last=Cabrera|first=Bea|date=2018-02-08|work=Saipan Tribune|access-date=2018-07-26|language=en-US}}

Skymark Airlines began flights to Saipan in 2019 using Boeing 737s from Narita.{{cite web|url=https://asia.nikkei.com/Business/Companies/Skymark-to-offer-Tokyo-service-to-Saipan-and-Palau|title=Skymark to offer Tokyo service to Saipan and Palau|date=2018-06-20|website=Nikkei Asian Review|language=en-GB|access-date=2018-07-26}}

• A Star Marianas plane crashed during takeoff on November 17, 2012, on its return from Tinian. One person was confirmed dead.{{cite web

|url = http://mvguam.com/local/news/26902-breaking-news-plane-crash-at-saipan-international-airport.html

|title = BREAKING NEWS: Plane crash at Saipan International Airport

|author = Administrator

|access-date = June 7, 2015

|url-status = dead

|archive-url = https://archive.today/20130129075659/http://mvguam.com/local/news/26902-breaking-news-plane-crash-at-saipan-international-airport.html

|archive-date = January 29, 2013

|df = mdy-all

}}Gaynor Dumat-ol Daleno, "1 killed in Saipan plane crash," Pacific Daily News, November 20, 2012, http://www.guampdn.com/article/20121120/NEWS01/211200301/1-killed-Saipan-plane-crash?odyssey=tab%7Ctopnews%7Ctext%7CFrontpage

File:Saipan International Airport Terminal Building1.JPG

Saipan International Airport covers an area of {{convert|734|acre|ha|lk=on}} which contains two paved runways: (7/25) measures 8,699 x 200 ft (2,651 x 61 m); (6/24) measures 7,001 x 100 ft (2,134 x 30 m).{{cite web|url=https://skyvector.com/airport/GSN/Francisco-C-Ada-Saipan-International-Airport|title=GSN airport data at skyvector.com|website=skyvector.com|access-date=September 28, 2022}}

For the 12-month period ending January 31, 2022, the airport had 27,875 aircraft operations, an average of 76 per day: 28% general aviation, 69% air taxi, 3% scheduled commercial and <1% military.

{{airport destination list

| Asiana Airlines | Charter: Seoul–Incheon{{Cite news|url=https://www.rnz.co.nz/international/pacific-news/511000/asiana-airlines-halts-regular-flights-to-saipan|title=Asiana Airlines halts regular flights to Saipan|publisher=RNZ |date=6 March 2024}}

| Hong Kong Airlines |Charter: Hong Kong{{cite web |title=Hong Kong Airlines Resumes Saipan Service in 2Q24 |url=https://www.aeroroutes.com/eng/240305-hxns24spn |website=Aeroroutes |access-date=5 March 2024}}

| Jeju Air |Seasonal: Busan,{{Cite web |title=Jeju Air W18 Saipan service changes as of 27NOV18 |url=https://www.routesonline.com/news/38/airlineroute/281719/jeju-air-w18-saipan-service-changes-as-of-27nov18/}} Seoul–Incheon{{Cite web |url=https://www.routesonline.com/news/38/airlineroute/281557/jeju-air-saipan-service-changes-from-late-nov-2018/|title=Jeju Air Saipan service changes from late-Nov 2018}}

| Star Marianas Air | Rota, Tinian

| T'way Air | Seoul–Incheon{{cite web |url=http://www.routesonline.com/news/38/airlineroute/269523/tway-plans-saipan-launch-in-dec-2016/ |title=T'Way plans Saipan launch in Dec 2016|publisher=routesonline|access-date=October 26, 2016}}

| United Airlines | Guam,{{Cite web|url=https://www.guampdn.com/story/news/2018/04/16/united-change-flights-between-guam-and-saipan-june-1/519347002/|title = United to change flights between Guam and Saipan June 1| date=April 16, 2018 }} Tokyo–Narita{{cite web|url=https://aeroroutes.com/eng/220627-uasep22spn | title=UNITED RESUMES SAIPAN – TOKYO SERVICE FROM SEP 2022|publisher=Aeroroutes | access-date=27 June 2022}}

}}

{{Portal|United States|Aviation}}

• East Field (Saipan)
• Kobler Field
• Marpi Point Field
• USAAF in the Central Pacific

• {{Air Force Historical Research Agency}}
• Dorr, Robert F. B-29 Units of World War II. Botley, Oxford, UK: Osprey Publishing, 2002. {{ISBN|1-84176-285-7}}
• Maurer, Maurer (1983). Air Force Combat Units Of World War II. Maxwell AFB, Alabama: Office of Air Force History. {{ISBN|0-89201-092-4}}.
• Peacock, Lindsay. "Boeing B-29...First of the Superbombers". Part One. Air International, August 1989, Vol 37 No 2. ISSN 0306-5634. pp. 68–76, 87.
• Rust, Kenn C. Twentieth Air Force Story...in World War II. Temple City, California: Historical Aviation Album, 1979. {{ISBN|0-911852-85-9}}.
• [http://www.pacificwrecks.com/ www.pacificwrecks.com]

{{Reflist}}

{{Commons category}}

• [http://www.cpa.gov.mp/spnapt.asp Commonwealth Ports Authority: Saipan International Airport]
• [http://www.airliners.net/search/photo.search?placesearch=Obyan%20-%20Saipan%20International%20%28SPN%20%2F%20GSN%20%2F%20PGSN%29&distinct_entry=true Aviation Photos: Obyan – Saipan International (SPN / GSN / PGSN)] from Airliners.net
• {{FAA-diagram|06293|Francisco C. Ada/Saipan International Airport (GSN) (PGSN)}}
• {{US-airport2|SPN|PGSN}}

{{CMNI Topics}}

{{USAAF 20th Air Force World War II}}

{{National Register of Historic Places in the Northern Mariana Islands}}

{{Authority control}}

Category:Airfields of the United States Army Air Forces in the Pacific Ocean theatre of World War II

Category:Airports in the Northern Mariana Islands

Category:Airports established in 1934

Category:Saipan, Northern Mariana Islands

Category:Buildings and structures on the National Register of Historic Places in the Northern Mariana Islands

Category:World War II on the National Register of Historic Places in the Northern Mariana Islands

Category:1934 establishments in the Northern Mariana Islands

Category:Airports on the National Register of Historic Places