Pagan Airstrip: Difference between revisions
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{{Short description|Airport on Pagan Island}} |
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{{Use mdy dates|date=August 2023}} |
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{{Infobox airport |
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| image = Japanese airstrip on Pagan Island (204976663) (cropped).jpg |
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| caption = |
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| IATA = ''none'' |
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| caption = The airfield in World War II during bombing by U.S. forces |
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| ICAO = ''none'' |
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| IATA = |
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| ICAO = |
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| FAA = TT01 |
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| type = Public |
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| city-served = |
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| operator = |
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| city-served = |
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| elevation-m = 10 |
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| built = 1939–1944<br/>1966–1970 (rebuilt) |
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| elevation-f = 34 |
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| elevation-m = 10 |
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| website = |
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| r1- |
| r1-number = 11/29 |
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| r1-length-f = 1,500 |
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| r1-surface = Turf/gravel |
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| stat-year = 1980 |
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| stat1-header = Aircraft operations |
| stat1-header = Aircraft operations |
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| stat1-data |
| stat1-data = 240 |
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| footnotes |
| footnotes = Source: [[Federal Aviation Administration]]<ref name="FAA">{{FAA-airport|ID=TT01|use=PU|own=PU|site=51533.*A}}, retrieved August 24, 2023</ref> |
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| pushpin_map = Northern Mariana Islands |
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| pushpin_label = TT01 |
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| pushpin_map_caption = Location of Pagan Airstrip within the Northern Mariana Islands |
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| image_map = Pagan-Airstrip-Diagram.png |
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| image_map_caption = FAA diagram of the airfield's layout |
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'''Pagan Airstrip''' {{Airport codes|||TT01}} is a |
'''Pagan Airstrip''' {{Airport codes|||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.<ref name="FAA" /> |
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==History== |
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== Facilities and aircraft == |
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The airfield was originally built as a Japanese fighter airstrip and was called '''Shomushan Field'''.<ref name="honululuadvertiser">{{Cite news |date=1970-10-23 |title=Airstrip completed on Pagan island |pages=10 |work=[[The Honolulu Advertiser]] |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-honolulu-advertiser-airstrip-complet/130468103/ |via=[[Newspapers.com]]}}</ref> Construction took place between 1939 and 1944, with 200 workers from Japan and Korea building the {{convert|1000|ft}} runway and other defenses on the island.<ref name="dixon">{{Cite journal |last=Dixon |first=Boyd |last2=Lash |first2=Erik |last3=Schaefer |first3=Richard |date=2018 |title=Pagan: the archaeology of a WWII battle never fought in the Northern Mariana Islands |journal=Journal of Conflict Archaeology |publisher=[[Routledge]] |volume=13 |issue=1 |pages=37–58 |doi=10.1080/15740773.2018.1533667}}</ref> |
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Pagan Airstrip has one [[runway]] (11/29) measuring 1,500 x 120 ft. (457 x 37 m), with a turf and gravel surface.<ref name=FAA /> |
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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.<ref>{{Cite news |date=1944-06-25 |title=Japs Lose 5 Ships and 72 War Planes |pages=1 |work=[[Fort Worth Star-Telegram]] |agency=[[Associated Press]] |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/fort-worth-star-telegram-japs-lose-5-shi/130596945/ |via=[[Newspapers.com]]}}</ref> It was subject to further bombing on September 26–27, 1944, with [[P-47 Thunderbolt]]s and [[B-24 Liberator]]s of the [[Seventh Air Force]] conducting attacks.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Haugland |first=Vern |author-link=Vernon Arnold Haugland |last2=Johnson |first2=Mac R. |date=1944-09-29 |title=Operation Will Protect Peleliu From Jap Shells |pages=1 |work=[[Hawaii Tribune-Herald]] |agency=[[Associated Press]], [[United Press]] |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/hawaii-tribune-herald-operation-will-pro/130597925/ |via=[[Newspapers.com]]}}</ref> 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 Corsair]]s bombed and strafed the island, in addition to downing two Japanese aircraft.<ref>{{Cite news |date=1944-11-29 |title=American Bombers Hit Several Enemy Bases |pages=10 |work=[[The News & Observer]] |agency=[[United Press]] |publication-date=1944-11-30 |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-news-and-observer-tokyo-hit-by-fire/130597159/ |via=[[Newspapers.com]]}}</ref> In total, U.S. Army P-47 Thunderbolts and [[P-61 Black Widow]]s flew 1,578 missions against the airfield between August 1944 and May 1945, with the Japanese continuously repairing the runway.<ref name="dixon" /> |
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Japanese forces on Pagan surrendered in September 1945.<ref>{{Cite news |date=1945-09-04 |title=British Will Land Today In Singapore |pages=1 |work=[[The Fresno Bee]] |agency=[[United Press]] |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-fresno-bee-british-will-land-today-i/130598375/ |via=[[Newspapers.com]]}}</ref> |
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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.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Smith |first=Marjorie |date=1967-04-12 |title=Airstrip dedication draws Pagan closer to world |page=G-9 |work=[[Honolulu Star-Bulletin]] |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/honolulu-star-bulletin-airstrip-dedicati/130598796/ |via=[[Newspapers.com]]}}</ref> |
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From May to October 1970, the airfield was further rebuilt by thirteen members of a [[U.S. Air Force]] Civic Action Team.<ref name="honululuadvertiser" /> |
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On May 15, 1981, Mount Pagan [[volcanic eruption|erupted]],<ref name=tribune>{{Cite news |date=1981-05-15 |title=Volcano erupts on tiny island |language=en-us |page=B-3 |work=[[The Tribune (San Luis Obispo)|The Tribune]] |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-tribune-volcano-erupts-on-tiny-islan/130599602/ |access-date=2023-08-24 |via=[[Newspapers.com]]}}</ref> with lava flows covering about one-third of the airfield.<ref>{{Cite news |date=1981-05-30 |title=Pagan Islanders survive blast |pages=12 |work=[[Morning Sentinel]] |agency=[[Associated Press]] |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/morning-sentinel-pagan-islanders-survive/130599345/ |via=[[Newspapers.com]]}}</ref> 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.<ref name=tribune /> |
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{{As of|2023}}, the airfield is listed as "closed indefinitely" in the [[Federal Aviation Administration]]'s [[Airport/Facility Directory]].<ref>{{Cite book |url=https://aeronav.faa.gov/Upload_313-d/supplements/CS_PAC_20230810.pdf |title=United States Government Flight Information Publication – Chart Supplement Pacific |publisher=[[Federal Aviation Administration]] |year=2023 |pages=61 |language=en |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230824234749/https://aeronav.faa.gov/Upload_313-d/supplements/CS_PAC_20230810.pdf |archive-date=2023-08-24}}</ref> It has not been inspected by the FAA since September 1980.<ref name="FAA" /> 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.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Global Volcanism Program {{!}} Pagan |url=https://volcano.si.edu/volcano.cfm?vn=284170 |access-date=2023-10-12 |website=Smithsonian Institution {{!}} Global Volcanism Program |language=en}}</ref> |
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== References == |
== References == |
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{{reflist}} |
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<references /> |
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== External links == |
== External links == |
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*{{Wikimapia|18.1231|145.7631|15}} |
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*{{AirNav|TT01}} |
*{{AirNav|TT01}} |
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{{authority control}} |
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[[Category:Airports in the Northern Mariana Islands]] |
[[Category:Airports in the Northern Mariana Islands]] |
Latest revision as of 01:53, 13 January 2024
Pagan Airstrip | |||||||||||
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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 | ||||||||||
Maps | |||||||||||
FAA diagram of the airfield's layout | |||||||||||
Runways | |||||||||||
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Statistics (1980) | |||||||||||
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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[edit]
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[edit]
- ^ 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[edit]
- Airport information for TT01 at AirNav