| Submit your comments on this article |
| Southeast Asia |
| Massive WWII B-29 Bomber Base Fully Reclaimed For Future Pacific Fight |
| 2025-02-21 |
| [TWZ] Satellite imagery shows the dramatic restoration of Tinian Island's historic North Field, a site that also presents targeting challenges for China. Satellite imagery shows the extent of the massive amount of work that has been done in the past year to restore more than 20 million square feet of runways and other World War II-era infrastructure at historic North Field on the U.S. island of Tinian in the Western Pacific. The airfield was originally established as a launchpad for B-29 bomber raids on Imperial Japan, including the ones that saw atomic bombs dropped on the cities of Hiroshima and Nagasaki. The facility has been refurbished to again offer a critical power projection node with its original grid-like layout presenting targeting challenges for a modern opponent, all of which could be especially valuable in a future high-end fight in the region against China. A series of satellite images of North Field taken between Dec. 3, 2023, and Jan. 29, 2025, by Planet Labs starkly illustrates just how extensive the reconstitution of the derelict airfield has become. The images, as can seen below, show the progressive clearing of the previously overgrown runways, taxiways, and other infrastructure. Additional satellite imagery from Planet Labs shows the ongoing work to expand Tinian International Airport further to the south of North Field, which is also to support U.S. military operations in the region. As seen below, a very large new apron and adjacent taxiway are being built to the north of the airport’s existing runway. Additional infrastructure, including new fuel storage facilities at Tinian’s main port at the south end of the island, is also included in the divert field project, as you can read more about here. |
| Posted by:Skidmark |
| #6 This sounds like a Trump era decision per the article it was made in 2020 or prior. for background reporting: https://www.cnn.com/2023/12/22/asia/us-air-force-pacific-tinian-island-airfield-intl-hnk-ml/index.html |
| Posted by: jefe101 2025-02-21 11:17 |
| #5 #3 - Not too much or it might tip over! /Hank Johnson (D-Idiot) |
| Posted by: Frank G 2025-02-21 10:59 |
| #4 Wouldn't that be something, if this was a political exile post, and everyone who were sent there got together and were the competent go getters and were like, hey, since we're here, let's rebuild this thing. |
| Posted by: swksvolFF 2025-02-21 10:45 |
| #3 Who knows what's under the surface of Tinian? |
| Posted by: Anguper Hupomosing9418 2025-02-21 10:43 |
| #2 Who came up with this idea? How did it get past the Biden administration? How much effort and time was wasted just on the pronoun and other 'woke' stuff? Seriously, I think the people whp came up with this idea of rehabbing and expanding the base and got it done are worth keeping, maybe even promoting. |
| Posted by: Seeking Cure For Ignorance 2025-02-21 07:08 |
| #1 A good PR show of force. But Remote Island Land Base Bombers are easily tracked targets. |
| Posted by: NN2N1 2025-02-21 04:19 |