Tinian
Encyclopedia
Tinian is one of the three principal islands of the Commonwealth
of the Northern Mariana Islands
.
Tinian is about 5 miles (8 km) southwest of its sister island, Saipan
, from which it is separated by the Saipan Channel
. It has a land area of 39 sq.mi. (101.01 km²). Together with uninhabited neighboring Aguijan
Island (2.74 sq mi, or 7.09 km²), it forms Tinian Municipality
, one of the four constituent municipalities of the Northern Marianas. The total area of the municipality is 41.74 sq mi (108.1 km²). Tinian's largest village is San Jose
. The island has a variety of flora and fauna, as well as limestone cliffs and caves. There is also a variety of marine life and coral reefs surrounding the island. Its clear, warm waters are ideal for snorkeling and scuba diving, as well as sport fishing.
, The Dynasty, which includes a luxury hotel, shops and restaurants and is adjacent to Tachogna beach and Taga Beach. The village of San Jose has several smaller hotels and restaurants and bars. The airport is small and serviced by two airlines, Freedom Air
, which operates daily scheduled flights, and Star Marianas Air, which operates by charter. The ferry boat service that operated twice daily between Tinian and Saipan
ran at a loss estimated to be US$1 million a year and has now ceased. The island also has the only intact Shinto shrine on the Mariana Islands.
Much of the local economy is dependent on tourism. The largest employers on the island are the government and the casino. As of March 2006, the island has plans to put in four new casinos. The 2000 census
showed a population of 3,540 for the island.
forces in World War II
, Tinian, with its sister islands, had passed through Spanish and German hands prior to becoming a protectorate of Japan after World War I
. Under Japanese administration, Tinian was largely a sugar
plantation
.
Tinian was captured by the United States in July 1944 in the Battle of Tinian
. The island was transformed into the busiest airbase
of the war, with two B-29 airfields (West and North) having six 8,500 foot (2700 m) runways. The four runways at the North Field are now overgrown and abandoned. The West Field runways are still in use as the Tinian International Airport.
When the United States turned the entire island, excepting its three highland areas, into a 40,000-personnel installation, Navy Seabees (107th NCB ) laid out the base in a pattern of city streets resembling New York's Manhattan Island and named the streets accordingly. The area south of West Field was developed from the main Japanese installation at Sunharon. This was nicknamed "The Village" because its location corresponded to that of Greenwich Village
. A large square area between West and North Fields, used primarily only for the location of the base hospitals and otherwise left undeveloped, was called Central Park
.
Post World War II, West Field was Tinian's airport called Gurguan Point Airfield; and today is Tinian International Airport
.
, Guam
.
The Japanese had constructed three small fighter strips on Tinian but none were suitable for bomber operations. Under the Americans, nearly the entire northern end of the island was occupied by the runways, nearly 11 miles (17.7 km) of taxiways and the airfield area, designed to accommodate an entire 313th Bombardment Wing of B-29 Superfortress
bombers.
It was from Tinian that the bombers from the 509th Composite Group
carrying the atomic bombs Little Boy
and Fat Man
were launched against Hiroshima
and Nagasaki. The bomb had been delivered to the island by the USS Indianapolis
on July 26, 1945.
North Field is where the remains of the US bomber base and Atom Bomb Pits, as well as the remains of Japanese fortifications, can be found. There is a memorial on the old airfield at the loading pits, which had been filled in for safety. Both pits were recently reopened in conjunction with the 60th Anniversary Commemoration of the Battles of Saipan
and Tinian
. Originally, the pits had been constructed to load the large bombs, since each bomb was too large to be loaded in the conventional manner. The planes were maneuvered over a pit with their bomb bay doors open to facilitate loading.
operates public schools.
Commonwealth
Commonwealth is a traditional English term for a political community founded for the common good. Historically, it has sometimes been synonymous with "republic."More recently it has been used for fraternal associations of some sovereign nations...
of the Northern Mariana Islands
Northern Mariana Islands
The Northern Mariana Islands, officially the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands , is a commonwealth in political union with the United States, occupying a strategic region of the western Pacific Ocean. It consists of 15 islands about three-quarters of the way from Hawaii to the Philippines...
.
Geography
Saipan
Saipan is the largest island of the United States Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands , a chain of 15 tropical islands belonging to the Marianas archipelago in the western Pacific Ocean with a total area of . The 2000 census population was 62,392...
, from which it is separated by the Saipan Channel
Saipan Channel
The Saipan Channel is a narrow strait which separates the south coast of Saipan from the north coast of Tinian in the Northern Mariana Islands....
. It has a land area of 39 sq.mi. (101.01 km²). Together with uninhabited neighboring Aguijan
Aguijan
Aguijan is a small bean-shaped coralline island in the Northern Mariana Islands chain situated southwest of Tinian, from which it is separated by the Tinian Channel. It is only 7.09 km² in size and is nicknamed Goat Island due to the large number of feral goats present there...
Island (2.74 sq mi, or 7.09 km²), it forms Tinian Municipality
Tinian Municipality
Tinian Municipality is one of the four constituent municipalities of the Northern Mariana Islands. It consists of the islands of Tinian and Aguijan and their offshore islets. The municipality is the second southernmost in the Northern Marianas and has a land area of 108.1 km²...
, one of the four constituent municipalities of the Northern Marianas. The total area of the municipality is 41.74 sq mi (108.1 km²). Tinian's largest village is San Jose
San Jose, Northern Mariana Islands
San Jose is the largest village on the island of Tinian, in the Northern Mariana Islands. It is located on the south coast of the island, close to the island's main harbor and three popular beaches: Kammer Beach, Taga Beach, and Tachogna Beach....
. The island has a variety of flora and fauna, as well as limestone cliffs and caves. There is also a variety of marine life and coral reefs surrounding the island. Its clear, warm waters are ideal for snorkeling and scuba diving, as well as sport fishing.
Tourist destinations
Tinian has two gas stations and a casinoCasino
In modern English, a casino is a facility which houses and accommodates certain types of gambling activities. Casinos are most commonly built near or combined with hotels, restaurants, retail shopping, cruise ships or other tourist attractions...
, The Dynasty, which includes a luxury hotel, shops and restaurants and is adjacent to Tachogna beach and Taga Beach. The village of San Jose has several smaller hotels and restaurants and bars. The airport is small and serviced by two airlines, Freedom Air
Freedom Air (Guam)
Freedom Air is a Barrigada, Guam-based airline operating scheduled passenger and cargo services in Guam and the Northern Mariana Islands. Its headquarters is located in Guam's Antonio B. Won Pat International Airport....
, which operates daily scheduled flights, and Star Marianas Air, which operates by charter. The ferry boat service that operated twice daily between Tinian and Saipan
Saipan
Saipan is the largest island of the United States Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands , a chain of 15 tropical islands belonging to the Marianas archipelago in the western Pacific Ocean with a total area of . The 2000 census population was 62,392...
ran at a loss estimated to be US$1 million a year and has now ceased. The island also has the only intact Shinto shrine on the Mariana Islands.
Much of the local economy is dependent on tourism. The largest employers on the island are the government and the casino. As of March 2006, the island has plans to put in four new casinos. The 2000 census
United States Census Bureau
The United States Census Bureau is the government agency that is responsible for the United States Census. It also gathers other national demographic and economic data...
showed a population of 3,540 for the island.
House of Taga
The House of Taga is a Latte stone site, one of the largest such structures in the Marianas. The stones are quarried limestone, each approximately 20 feet (6.1 m) in length. Of the twelve large Latte structures, only one is still standing.World War II
Lightly populated, but heavily garrisoned by JapaneseEmpire of Japan
The Empire of Japan is the name of the state of Japan that existed from the Meiji Restoration on 3 January 1868 to the enactment of the post-World War II Constitution of...
forces in World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
, Tinian, with its sister islands, had passed through Spanish and German hands prior to becoming a protectorate of Japan after World War I
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
. Under Japanese administration, Tinian was largely a sugar
Sugar
Sugar is a class of edible crystalline carbohydrates, mainly sucrose, lactose, and fructose, characterized by a sweet flavor.Sucrose in its refined form primarily comes from sugar cane and sugar beet...
plantation
Plantation
A plantation is a long artificially established forest, farm or estate, where crops are grown for sale, often in distant markets rather than for local on-site consumption...
.
Tinian was captured by the United States in July 1944 in the Battle of Tinian
Battle of Tinian
The Battle of Tinian was a battle of the Pacific campaign of World War II, fought on the island of Tinian in the Mariana Islands from 24 July 1944 to 1 August 1944.-Background:...
. The island was transformed into the busiest airbase
Airbase
An airbase is a military airfield that provides basing and support of military aircraft....
of the war, with two B-29 airfields (West and North) having six 8,500 foot (2700 m) runways. The four runways at the North Field are now overgrown and abandoned. The West Field runways are still in use as the Tinian International Airport.
West Field
Airfield construction was originally built by the Japanese, and built with two parallel runways. It was repaired by the Americans, and then called West Field. From here seven squadrons of the 58th Bombardment Wing flew combat and reconnaissance missions throughout Southeast Asia and finally into the heart of the Japanese empire, striking at the core of the enemy’s industrial cities, aircraft factories, steel mills, electronic facilities, ball bearing manufacturers, and merchant shipping centers.Greenwich Village
Greenwich Village, , , , .in New York often simply called "the Village", is a largely residential neighborhood on the west side of Lower Manhattan in New York City. A large majority of the district is home to upper middle class families...
. A large square area between West and North Fields, used primarily only for the location of the base hospitals and otherwise left undeveloped, was called Central Park
Central Park
Central Park is a public park in the center of Manhattan in New York City, United States. The park initially opened in 1857, on of city-owned land. In 1858, Frederick Law Olmsted and Calvert Vaux won a design competition to improve and expand the park with a plan they entitled the Greensward Plan...
.
Post World War II, West Field was Tinian's airport called Gurguan Point Airfield; and today is Tinian International Airport
Tinian International Airport
Tinian International Airport , also known as West Tinian Airport, is a public airport located on Tinian Island in the United States Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands. This airport is owned by Commonwealth Ports Authority.Although most U.S...
.
North Field
This North Field (Ushi Point Airfield) is not to be confused with the prior name of Andersen Air Force BaseAndersen Air Force Base
Andersen Air Force Base is a United States Air Force base located approximately northeast of Yigo in the United States territory of Guam....
, Guam
Guam
Guam is an organized, unincorporated territory of the United States located in the western Pacific Ocean. It is one of five U.S. territories with an established civilian government. Guam is listed as one of 16 Non-Self-Governing Territories by the Special Committee on Decolonization of the United...
.
The Japanese had constructed three small fighter strips on Tinian but none were suitable for bomber operations. Under the Americans, nearly the entire northern end of the island was occupied by the runways, nearly 11 miles (17.7 km) of taxiways and the airfield area, designed to accommodate an entire 313th Bombardment Wing of B-29 Superfortress
B-29 Superfortress
The B-29 Superfortress is a four-engine propeller-driven heavy bomber designed by Boeing that was flown primarily by the United States Air Forces in late-World War II and through the Korean War. The B-29 was one of the largest aircraft to see service during World War II...
bombers.
It was from Tinian that the bombers from the 509th Composite Group
509th Composite Group
The 509th Composite Group was a United States Army Air Forces unit created during World War II, and tasked with operational deployment of nuclear weapons...
carrying the atomic bombs Little Boy
Little Boy
"Little Boy" was the codename of the atomic bomb dropped on Hiroshima on August 6, 1945 by the Boeing B-29 Superfortress Enola Gay, piloted by Colonel Paul Tibbets of the 393rd Bombardment Squadron, Heavy, of the United States Army Air Forces. It was the first atomic bomb to be used as a weapon...
and Fat Man
Fat Man
"Fat Man" is the codename for the atomic bomb that was detonated over Nagasaki, Japan, by the United States on August 9, 1945. It was the second of the only two nuclear weapons to be used in warfare to date , and its detonation caused the third man-made nuclear explosion. The name also refers more...
were launched against Hiroshima
Hiroshima
is the capital of Hiroshima Prefecture, and the largest city in the Chūgoku region of western Honshu, the largest island of Japan. It became best known as the first city in history to be destroyed by a nuclear weapon when the United States Army Air Forces dropped an atomic bomb on it at 8:15 A.M...
and Nagasaki. The bomb had been delivered to the island by the USS Indianapolis
USS Indianapolis (CA-35)
USS Indianapolis was a of the United States Navy. She holds a place in history due to the circumstances of her sinking, which led to the greatest single loss of life at sea in the history of the U.S. Navy...
on July 26, 1945.
North Field is where the remains of the US bomber base and Atom Bomb Pits, as well as the remains of Japanese fortifications, can be found. There is a memorial on the old airfield at the loading pits, which had been filled in for safety. Both pits were recently reopened in conjunction with the 60th Anniversary Commemoration of the Battles of Saipan
Battle of Saipan
The Battle of Saipan was a battle of the Pacific campaign of World War II, fought on the island of Saipan in the Mariana Islands from 15 June-9 July 1944. The Allied invasion fleet embarking the expeditionary forces left Pearl Harbor on 5 June 1944, the day before Operation Overlord in Europe was...
and Tinian
Battle of Tinian
The Battle of Tinian was a battle of the Pacific campaign of World War II, fought on the island of Tinian in the Mariana Islands from 24 July 1944 to 1 August 1944.-Background:...
. Originally, the pits had been constructed to load the large bombs, since each bomb was too large to be loaded in the conventional manner. The planes were maneuvered over a pit with their bomb bay doors open to facilitate loading.
Education
Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands Public School SystemCommonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands Public School System
Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands Public School System is a school district serving the Northern Mariana Islands, a territory of the United States.-7-12 schools:Tinian* Tinian High School -High schools:Saipan...
operates public schools.
See also
- National Register of Historic Places listings in the Northern Mariana Islands
Census data
- http://factfinder.census.gov/servlet/DTTable?_bm=y&-show_geoid=Y&-tree_id=405&-_caller=geoselect&-context=dt&-errMsg=&-all_geo_types=N&-mt_name=DEC_2000_IAMP_P001&-redoLog=true&-transpose=N&-search_map_config=|b=50|l=en|t=4001|zf=0.0|ms=sel_00dec|dw=0.9528487917191559|dh=0.6838460131961157|dt=gov.census.aff.domain.map.EnglishMapExtent|if=gif|cx=-67.48042614595042|cy=18.385966173167105|zl=6|pz=6|bo=318:317:316:314:313:323:319|bl=362:393:358:357:356:355:354|ft=350:349:335:389:388:332:331|fl=381:403:204:380:369:379:368|g=04000US72&-PANEL_ID=p_dt_geo_map&-_lang=en&-geo_id=05000US69120&-geo_id=15000US691209501001&-geo_id=15000US691209501002&-geo_id=15000US691209501003&-geo_id=15000US691209501004&-geo_id=15000US691209501005&-CONTEXT=dt&-format=&-search_results=ALL&-ds_name=DEC_2000_IAMPTinian Municipality, Tinian Island (Block Groups 1 thru 4) and Aguijan Island (Block Group 5), United States Census Bureau]