Location
Located on Saipan.
Japanese Usage
Occupied by the Japanese in December 1941, and used until mid-June 1944. This airfield was an important land base during the "Battle of the Marianas" (Marianas Turkey Shoot).
Japanese Units based at Aslito
261 Kokutai (A6M5) ? - June 1944
265 Kokutai (A6M5) ? - June 1944
American Liberation
The airfield was recaptured by the 27th Infantry Division
on the night on June 16-17, 1944. During the recapture, a Zero from from Guam actually landed
at Aslito Airfield, the pilot
was unaware that the field had fallen to the Americans.
As it landed it was fired upon and it crashed at
the end of the strip. The pilot survived and the
plane was captured.
Captured Zeros
Several A6M5 Zero Fighters
were captured intact at the airfield when Americans occupied it. Among them were: A6M5 1303, A6M5 4340, A6M5 5357 and A6M5 5350.
American Usage
Repaired and expanded by American forces into two parallel runways. In early September 1944, the 498th Bombardment Group arrived at the airfield, and flew its first mission on October 28, 1944.
Isley Field No 1
A single runway 8,500' x 200' as of December 1944. Extensive taxiways and ravetments were located to the north and south of the runway. A second runway was under construction as of December 1944. Tower code named 'Blue Grass'.
Isley Field No 2
A single 7,300' x 200' under construction as of December 1944. Extensive taxiways and ravetments were located to the south of the runway. Tower code named 'Gardenia'.
Naming Honors
AsNamed 'Isley Field'. after a US Navy pilot who was killed while bombing it.
American Units Based at Isley Field
498th BG HQ from USA September 6, 1944
498th BG 873d, 874th and 875th BS (B-29) from USA Sept 7, 1944
497th BG 869th, 870th and 871st BS (B-29) from USA Sept 17, 1944
499th & 500th BG HQ from USA September 18, 1944
500th BG, 881st, 882d and 883d BS (B-29 September 19, 1944
499th BG, 877th, 878th and 879th BS (B-29) September 22, 1944
Japanese Missions Against Isley Field
November 2, 1944 - December 25, 1944
Japanese air raids from Pagan and Iwo Jima against Isley Field lasted from November to January 2, 1945. Altogether about 80 Japanese aircraft attack, and nearly 40 are downed; 11 B-29s are destroyed and 43 damaged on the ground in these attacks.
Today
Since the war it has reverted back to being called Aslito
Field, and is the main port of entry to the Commonwealth
of the Northern Marianas. It is still in use today, airport code: SPN.
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