Showing posts with label tinian. Show all posts
Showing posts with label tinian. Show all posts

Wednesday, July 27, 2016

BATTLE OF TINIAN - 27 July 1944


The Ushi Point Airfield becomes operational on Tinian. The airfield was captured two days earlier by elements of the 2nd Marine Division who handed it over to a Naval Mobile Construction Battalion (Seabees). Assist by Marine Engineers, the Seabees quickly repaired the runway and damaged facilities to allow air operations to begin while Marines continued fighting to secure the remainder of the island.

The Seabees continued working on the runaway, expanded it to allow the U.S. Army Air Corps bombers to establish their principal base of operations in the Central Pacific. On August 6, 1945 the B-29 Superfortress "Enola Gay" loaded with "Little Boy" departed Tinian en route to Hiroshima.

Tuesday, July 26, 2016

THIS DAY IN MARINE CORPS HISTORY: 27 July

"The First Recruits" by Col Charles Waterhouse, USMCR (Ret)

Significant Marine events on this date included a meeting in Martinique, raising the flag over Puerto Rico, island-hopping battles in the Pacific, plus a look at the Corps' 1st Commandant.