February, 1945





March 1945

Location
Located in the southern corner of Iwo Jima located on the Motoyama plateau, to the north of Mount Surabachi.

Construction
Built by the Japanese, the base included three intersecting runways. Used by the Japanese until February 19, 1945 when the Marines landed.

Japanese Units Based at Iwo Jima
301st Kokutai (A6M Zero) June - July 1944

Battlefield
The airfield became a battlefield during the battle of Iwo Jima. The strip was put into action by Americans as the battle still raged. ON February 26, 1945 the first American aircraft landed on the strip, a OY-1 Sentinel piloted by Lt. Harvey Olson of Marine Observation Squadron 4. Later, On March 4, with the battle still raging a B-29 force landed, the first 2,400 emergency landings by American aircraft on Iwo Jima. Several Japanese wrecks were abandoned and captured at the airfield including Ki-46-III Dinah.

American Units Based at 'Central Field'
21st FG, 72nd FS, 531st FS (P-51) Mokuleia March 26, 1945
American Units Based at Iwo Jima (Unsure which airfield)
7th FC HQ Hawaii March 1, 1945 - ?
15th FG, 78th FS (P-51) March 1, 1945 - ?
15th FG HQ Hawaii March 6, 1945 - ?
548th NFS (P-61) Saipan March 6, 1945 - ?
549th NFS (P-61) from Hawaii/Saipan March 20, 1945 - ?
433d TCG, 67th TCS (C-46) Clark Field Aug 27, 1945 - ?
548th NFS (P-61) Saipan Mar 6 - June 8, 1945 Ie Shima

Today
Today, this airfield is abandoned.