WAR IN THE MARIANAS

THESE PICTURES ARE JAPANESE RELICS DISPLAYED IN FRONT OF THE BUNKER

THIS IS THE BUNKER WHERE JAPANESE USED AS THE LAST COMMAND POST 

After intense combat, the 4th Marine Division seized this bunker on July 9th, 1944, which was the last command post of the Japanese forces on Saipan. A direct hit from a shell fired by a US battleship caused the massive hole. 

The Imperial Japanese ordered the construction of an airfield on Marpi Point in March 1944. During the fight, work on the runway continued to allow for the planned airlift of Japanese reinforcements to Saipan; however, this plan was abandoned when it became clear that the US naval and air force would make it impossible. The 24th Marines seized Marpi Point and the airfield on July 9, 1944, while the 25th Marines secured the island's northeast end. On the 9th of July, at 16:15, Saipan was declared secure. The first American planes to land at Marpi Point Field were from VMO-2. Marpi Point Field was taken over by the US Navy.