GOVERNOR Juan N. Babauta has asked the Commonwealth Ports Authority to consider the development of the former As Lito and Isely airfields into tourist attractions.
The sites could also provide an “important educational resource” for local students, the governor said.
In a letter to CPA Chairman Roman S. Palacios, Babauta said the sites had been described as the “most complete World War II air field in the Central Pacific area.”
“The remains of As Lito and Isely Fields are extremely historically significant and have been proclaimed a national historical landmark. Bombers from As Lito Field attacked Guam at the same time of the attack on Pearl Harbor, bringing the United States into World War II. Isely Field served as the base for the American strategic bombing of Japan and later the incendiary bombing of Japanese cities including the great Tokyo fire raid,” the governor said.
He added: “These historic buildings and remains are a rough gem that could be significantly valuable to the commonwealth. Developing these architectural remains would furnish another tourist attraction for Japanese tourists on Saipan, allow (the Marianas Visitors Authority) to more aggressively market the commonwealth to American, Australian and European tourists interested in historical tourism and provide an important educational resource for local students.”
The U.S. military constructed the two airfields in 1944. The Isely Field is the present site of Saipan International Airport which was originally constructed for B-29 bombers.
In 1947, the Northern Marianas was placed under the supervision of the United States as part of the Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands. Two years later, the U.S. Air Force de-activated Isely Field.
