Tinian Island: WWII's Busiest Airfield Comes Back to Life in 2024

One word, the sole reason this whole project is underway........China.

My grandfather was a SeaBee and helped build the airfields on Tinian. I wish he was still with us to see this.

STAND DOWN. There's a New Sheriff in Town and he wont be getting us into a War with China. Guaranteed. Tinian? "You 're Fired"

I was with the 7th Engineers Battalion out of Okinawa and we went to Tinian in 82-83 time frame to rebuild some of the roads, back then the jungle was over grown and at night the runways would be covered with crabs coming out of the jungle.

I just saw a REDHORSE cap! Couldn't tell which squadron, I was 819RHS from 2000-2004

My Father was a USN Hospital Corpsman who did two tours in Viet Nam. His final duty station was with the SeaBee Battalion at Gulfport, MS....... in 1969, when Hurricane Camille hit.

My earliest recollections involved huddling in the base dispensary with the other Navy families as the storm raged outside.

Meanwhile, my Dad and the heroic SeaBees went out into the teeth of the storm in their AMTRACs to rescue survivors, treat the injured and clear the roads for other emergency rescue personnel and equipment to flow in.

Those men should have had an award struck for them.

🇦🇺🇯🇵🇰🇷🇬🇧🇺🇸👍🙂

✊🏻✊🏻✊🏻🇺🇸🇵🇭

Was there in early 80's training. Enjoyed all the ww2 history just laying around,but we mostly blew it up.

REDHORSE!!!

You would of been working with what in my time in the USAF CES squadron love you guys nice work!

My Father James Lee Franklin served here during WWII as a longshoreman unloading ships. He made TEC5 before discharge

Looks like it still needs a lot of work, don’t pat yourselves on the back too fast

The Asian NATO is born spearheaded by US Japan South Korea and the Philippines. Mabuhay ang Sambayanang Pilipino saang mang dako ng mundo k!

do you really think that china will invade tiawan in 2027 and give notice to the world that they are going to do so, they will do it long before then....

I have a gut feeling ww3 aint too far off. Remember preparations for ww2 started years before the war happen .

I have a question how long are the runways and how big and what type of aircraft can use them

China is the big trouble maker in this region 😮

semper fe!!!..

I Believe That China is already Studying The U.S Tactics. They're Looking back at the Old Times.

Seabees Can Do...should have put more kudos on all the Seabees involved during the restoration

In 1981, I was on Tinian as part of the USMC 9th engineer support battalion!!! We did some rebuilding of the runways at that time.

This is awesome to see, coming back to life and not only that restored for future generations.

Please take back Subic and Clark too!

I got to go to Tinian back in the mid late 1980's as we did some training there. Got to see the invasion beaches, the old shot up Japanese bunkers. We also found a lot of old ordinance, which we left alone. Anyways, the 2 Atomic Bomb Pits shown did not have those covers on them during that time. Remember sleeping in the boonies there and they sure had some big rats!

I am so proud of these combat engineers and naval see bees in the restoration of these WW2 military airfields and bases! These men are the finest ! Thanks for the updated video!

It's cool to see these pics of Tinian, as I understand that my dad (James Edward Tripp) was stationed there at the end of the war (he died when I was 2, so the info I have is sketchy at best), after having been a pilot in India and China for most of the war.

My dad was a B-29 Navigator. He spent several months on Tinian at the end of the war. He said the local ragweed pollen came closer to killing him than did his B-29 or the Japanese.

The only reason they're putting money back into Tinian is because the military industrial complex and war mongering political class are salivating over a potential future war with China. Hundreds of billions in contracts are on the line and to hell with what the people might say. I've seen those B-29 bomb pits personally. In 2012 I flew out to stay at the Tinian Dynasty Hotel and Casino when it was still open. I took a neighbor of mine who faught in the battle of Saipan in WWII out to tour both islands.

The6 better not tear down some of those old buildings

Won’t be complete til they construct a full BX complex featuring Burger King & Pizza Hut 🤣

Some things are too expensive to maintain for preservation only. If they built it they intend to use it. I’ll let you figure that out.

I was on a small merchant ship that called on Tinian in '87. There was only a small contingent of Marines stationed there at that time.

I was there the day the barracks in beirut got blown up in 1983. US Marine Reconnaissance. Was with the army special forces. training

Look out China.

HOORAH SEABEES!!!!

100,000 Seabeas to build it all! WOW!

We really have to be prepared for the greediness of the Chinese.

I met a guy in my hometown. He was a senior living center. During the war he was stationed there. He saw the plan with first bomb and knew the crew.

Who really owns the island or is it leased space?

As a Marine in 1984 my unit spent 6 weeks on the island clearing it of unexploded munitions from WWII. It was an awesome experience. Would love to go back some day.

Would love to know what that Island really originally looked like originally..

Scary times we live in. An old airfield being rebuilt in preparation for future war. I know that it is better to be prepared than to be surprised by your enemy. God Help us all.

The reason they're doing this is to counter the chicoms.

On Japan island only America flag no Japanese flag

You got the WRONG ISLAND! Saipan was the busiest US Pacific airport BY FAR with over 241,000 sorties per WEEK. ONLY the 356th Bomb Group (Precision Daylight aka: "Egg Heads" atomic bombers) operated from Tinian, a TOTAL of 306 aircraft. You want their SERIAL NUMBERS? I have them. The 356th did MORE DESTRUCTION of precision targets than all the other 1100+ B-29's did. Want Sasebo Naval Base gone? Call the 356th.

I had relatives at Tinian who helped load the bomb to end the WW2.

This restoration ia a huge warning to China. I guarantee their military and civilian leaders are swallowing hard at this news.

USAF Red Horse. I'm a Phantom Phixer we had Red Horse at Kadena and Kunsan. At Kusan I saw them practice laying emergency runways while out at the run up pad.

Lt Col Frank Balz looks a little over weight? Wonder if the USAF even enforces weight standards anymore given DEI?