Pagan Airstrip
Pagan Airstrip | |||||||||||
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_(cropped).jpg/1280px-Japanese_airstrip_on_Pagan_Island_(204976663)_(cropped).jpg) The airfield in World War II during bombing by U.S. forces | |||||||||||
| Summary | |||||||||||
| Airport type | Public | ||||||||||
| Owner | Commonwealth Ports Authority | ||||||||||
| Location | Pagan Island | ||||||||||
| Built | 1939–1944 1966–1970 (rebuilt) | ||||||||||
| Elevation AMSL | 34 ft / 10 m | ||||||||||
| Coordinates | 18°07′23″N 145°45′47″E / 18.12306°N 145.76306°E / 18.12306; 145.76306 | ||||||||||
| Maps | |||||||||||
 FAA diagram of the airfield's layout | |||||||||||
  TT01 Location of Pagan Airstrip within the Northern Mariana Islands | |||||||||||
| Runways | |||||||||||
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| Statistics (1980) | |||||||||||
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Source: Federal Aviation Administration[1] | |||||||||||
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Pagan Airstrip (FAA LID: TT01) is a closed airfield located on Pagan Island in the United States Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, near the village of Shomu-Shon. The airport is owned by the Commonwealth Ports Authority.[1]
History
The airfield was originally built as a Japanese fighter airstrip and was called Shomushan Field.[2] Construction took place between 1939 and 1944, with 200 workers from Japan and Korea building the 1,000 feet (300 m) runway and other defenses on the island.[3]
On June 22, 1944, the airfield was attacked by U.S. carrier aircraft, with the attack destroying four Japanese aircraft on the ground, as well as damaging buildings and runways.[4] It was subject to further bombing on September 26–27, 1944, with P-47 Thunderbolts and B-24 Liberators of the Seventh Air Force conducting attacks.[5] The airfield was once attacked again on November 25–26, 1944, with U.S. Army Air Forces P-47 Thunderbolts and U.S. Navy F4U Corsairs bombed and strafed the island, in addition to downing two Japanese aircraft.[6] In total, U.S. Army P-47 Thunderbolts and P-61 Black Widows flew 1,578 missions against the airfield between August 1944 and May 1945, with the Japanese continuously repairing the runway.[3]
Japanese forces on Pagan surrendered in September 1945.[7]
Initial efforts to put the airfield back into service began in autumn of 1966, with US$7,000 in funding from the Mariana Islands District Legislature leading to a usable runway. In February 1967, Emmet Kay, president of Micronesia Airlines, was the first pilot to land at the airfield since World War II. A formal dedication was held on April 3, 1967.[8]
From May to October 1970, the airfield was further rebuilt by thirteen members of a U.S. Air Force Civic Action Team.[2]
During a 12-month period ending September 26, 1980, the airport had 240 aircraft operations: 79% air taxi and 21% general aviation.[1]
On May 15, 1981, Mount Pagan erupted,[9] with lava flows covering about one-third of the airfield.[10] Attempts by a civilian aircraft and a U.S. Navy P-3 Orion to land at the airstrip on the day of the eruption were unsuccessful, in part due to the volcano's ash cloud obscuring the airfield.[9]
As of 2023[update], the airfield is listed as "closed indefinitely" in the Federal Aviation Administration's Airport/Facility Directory.[11] It has not been inspected by the FAA since September 1980.[1] A major issue with habitation and operations on the island has been the activity of the volcano, which has erupted periodically since the 1980s, the latest being in 2021.[12]
References
- ^ a b c d FAA Airport Form 5010 for TT01 PDF, retrieved August 24, 2023
- ^ a b "Airstrip completed on Pagan island". The Honolulu Advertiser. October 23, 1970. p. 10 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ a b Dixon, Boyd; Lash, Erik; Schaefer, Richard (2018). "Pagan: the archaeology of a WWII battle never fought in the Northern Mariana Islands". Journal of Conflict Archaeology. 13 (1). Routledge: 37–58. doi:10.1080/15740773.2018.1533667.
- ^ "Japs Lose 5 Ships and 72 War Planes". Fort Worth Star-Telegram. Associated Press. June 25, 1944. p. 1 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ Haugland, Vern; Johnson, Mac R. (September 29, 1944). "Operation Will Protect Peleliu From Jap Shells". Hawaii Tribune-Herald. Associated Press, United Press. p. 1 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "American Bombers Hit Several Enemy Bases". The News & Observer (published November 30, 1944). United Press. November 29, 1944. p. 10 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "British Will Land Today In Singapore". The Fresno Bee. United Press. September 4, 1945. p. 1 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ Smith, Marjorie (April 12, 1967). "Airstrip dedication draws Pagan closer to world". Honolulu Star-Bulletin. p. G-9 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ a b "Volcano erupts on tiny island". The Tribune. May 15, 1981. p. B-3. Retrieved August 24, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "Pagan Islanders survive blast". Morning Sentinel. Associated Press. May 30, 1981. p. 12 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ United States Government Flight Information Publication – Chart Supplement Pacific (PDF). Federal Aviation Administration. 2023. p. 61. Archived from the original (PDF) on August 24, 2023.
- ^ "Global Volcanism Program | Pagan". Smithsonian Institution | Global Volcanism Program. Retrieved October 12, 2023.
External links
- Airport information for TT01 at AirNav
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