Tinian
 Tinian in area map, southwest of Saipan, showing waters around islands, and deeper Pacific section. |
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| Geography | |
|---|---|
| Location | Pacific Ocean |
| Coordinates | 15°00′N 145°38′E |
| Archipelago | Marianas |
| Area | 101.01 km2 (39 sq mi) |
| Country | |
United States
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| Commonwealth |  Northern Mariana Islands |
| Largest city | San Jose |
| Demographics | |
| Population | 3,136 (as of 2010) |
Contents |
History
World War II
Tinian, with its sister islands, passed through Spanish and German hands prior to becoming a protectorate of Japan after World War I. Under Japanese administration, Tinian was largely a sugar plantation.[1]The island was lightly populated but heavily garrisoned by Japanese forces in World War II. It was captured by US forces in July 1944 in the Battle of Tinian. The island was transformed into the busiest airbase [2] of the war, with two B-29 airfields (West and North) having six 8,500 foot (2700 m) runways. The four runways at the North Field are now overgrown and abandoned. The West Field runways are still in use as the Tinian International Airport.[3]
West Field
Airfield construction was originally by the Japanese, built with two parallel runways. It was repaired by the Americans, and then called West Field.[4] From here seven squadrons of the 58th Bombardment Wing flew combat and reconnaissance missions throughout Southeast Asia and finally into the heart of the Japanese empire, striking at the core of the enemy’s industrial cities, aircraft factories, steel mills, electronic facilities, ball bearing manufacturers, and merchant shipping centers.[4][5]
After World War II, West Field was Tinian's airport called Gurguan Point Airfield;[4] and today is Tinian International Airport.
North Field
Main article: North Field (Tinian)
This North Field (Ushi Point Airfield) is not to be confused with the prior name of Andersen Air Force Base, Guam.The Japanese had constructed three small fighter strips[1] on Tinian, but none were suitable for bomber operations. Under the Americans, nearly the entire northern end of the island was occupied by the runways, almost 11 miles (18 km) of taxiways and the airfield area, designed to accommodate the entire 313th Bombardment Wing of B-29 Superfortress bombers.[1]
It was from Tinian that the bombers Enola Gay and Bockscar from the 509th Composite Group carrying the atomic bombs Little Boy and Fat Man were launched against Hiroshima and Nagasaki.[3] The bomb components were delivered to the island by the USS Indianapolis and aircraft of the 509th Composite Group.
Remains of the US bomber base and Atom Bomb Pits,[3] and the remains of Japanese fortifications, can be found at North Field. There is a memorial on the old airfield at the loading pits, which are filled in for safety. Both pits were reopened in conjunction with the 60th Anniversary Commemoration of the Battles of Saipan and Tinian. The pits were originally constructed to load the bombs, since they were too large to be loaded in the conventional manner. The planes were maneuvered over a pit with their bomb bay doors open to facilitate loading.
Geography
Tourist destinations
Tinian has two gas stations and a casino. The village of San Jose has several smaller hotels and restaurants and bars. The airport is small and serviced by two airlines, Freedom Air, which operates daily scheduled flights, and Star Marianas Air, which operates by charter. The ferry boat service that operated twice daily between Tinian and Saipan ran at a loss estimated to be US$1 million a year, and has now ceased. The island has the only intact Shinto shrine on the Mariana Islands.Much of the local economy is dependent on tourism. The largest employers on the island are the government and the casino. As of March 2006, the island has plans to put in four new casinos.[citation needed] The 2010 census showed a population of 3,136[6] for the island.
House of Taga
Main article: House of Taga (Mariana Islands)
The House of Taga is a latte stone
site, one of the largest such structures in the Marianas. The stones
are quarried limestone, each approximately 20 feet (6.1 m) in length. Of
the twelve large Latte structures, only one is still standing.
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