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Location DB >
Mariana Island >
Commonwealth of the Northern M >
Tinian >
Japanese Air Administration Building
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Japanese Air Administration Building
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Publically Viewable |
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This location has been labeled by its creator as Public, and therefore can be viewed by anyone.
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The building is a large but damaged two story concrete building around a half acre in size.
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Type: Building
Status: Abandoned
Accessibility: Easy
Recommendation: check it out if you're nearby
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Despite severe artillery damage, this 70 year old building remains more or less structurally sound.
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This two-story building was the World War II headquarters of the Japanese Navy's 1st Air Fleet (Base Air Force of the Marianas), commanded by Vice Admiral Kakuji Kakuta. The building and air operation were part of Japan's Central Pacific Area Fleet. Vice Admiral Kakuta was not in the chain of command for the defense of Tinian, which was the responsibility of Colonel Kiyochi Ogata of the Japanese Army. Admiral Kakuta's airfields in the Marianas and Iwo Jima served as staging areas for moving aircraft to southern Pacific battle areas and for attacks on American ships. By July of 1944, the airfields directed from the 1st Fleet headquarters had been captured or destroyed. What remained of Admiral Kakuta's airplanes was destroyed in the naval battle of the Philppine Sea a month before the battle of Tinian. (in Japanese history, the Battle of the Philippine Sea is known as the Battle of the Marianas.)
When Americans captured Ushi Field, the headquarters building was abandoned and Ushi Field was a "ghost-field" of abandoned airplane wrecks.
The fate of Vice Admiral Kakuta is unknown, but was probably suicide or death in battle. His last radio message to Tokyo was on July 30 as the battle of Tinian was nearing its conclusion. The massive concrete headquarters building was damaged by American artillery during the battle.
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This site as well as other sites in the northern half of Tinian island will become off limits when the area is used for training by U.S. Marines following the move from Okinawa to Guam.
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The moderator rating is a neutral rating of the content quality, photography, and coolness of this location.
This location has not yet been rated by a moderator.
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This location's validation is current. It was last validated by
Opheliaism on 8/9/2010 8:35 AM.
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on Aug 9 10 at 8:35, Opheliaism validated this location
on Aug 9 10 at 5:55, blueblocker made this location available
on Aug 9 10 at 5:51, blueblocker changed the following: Country
on Aug 9 10 at 5:49, blueblocker changed the following: Interesting Features, Description
on Aug 9 10 at 5:47, blueblocker updated gallery picture P8030340.JPG
on Aug 9 10 at 5:47, blueblocker updated gallery picture P8030340.JPG
on Aug 9 10 at 5:46, blueblocker updated gallery picture P8030354.JPG
on Aug 9 10 at 5:46, blueblocker updated gallery picture P8030348.JPG
on Aug 9 10 at 5:46, blueblocker updated gallery picture P8030352.JPG
on Aug 9 10 at 5:46, blueblocker updated gallery picture P8030339.JPG
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