Facing the threat of Chinese missiles, the United States restarted World War II Pacific bases and fully prepared for war

In response to potential missile threats from China, the U.S. military has deployed air defense missiles in Guam. Historically, during World War II, American airfields were strategically spread across the Pacific, serving as a base for offensives against Japan. However, many remote airfields fell into disuse after the war, leading to a consolidation of military power at larger air bases. Now, as tensions with China rise, the U.S. has decided to reactivate these near-abandoned airfields, primarily focusing on runway repairs and facility upgrades.

According to The Wall Street Journal, for decades after the war, the U.S. solidified its presence at only a few major air bases in Japan and Guam. Yet, with China’s missile deployments, these bases have become obvious targets. Andersen Air Force Base in northern Guam is a critical strategic node capable of hosting up to 150 aircraft, with the largest fuel reserves in the Air Force. However, China has developed medium-range ballistic missiles that could reach this base. To counter this, the U.S. is looking to reactivate isolated airfields on Pacific islands, as well as potentially utilize civilian airports or shared bases with allies.

“Essentially, any runway over 7,000 feet is considered in play as a potential operational base,” stated Michael Winkler, Deputy Director of Air and Cyber Operations for Pacific Air Forces. This applies mainly to facilities developed by allies, especially in high-conflict zones like Taiwan. Japan and the Philippines have numerous military installations and civilian runways, which could accommodate U.S. aircraft. Winkler highlighted that Luzon Island alone has six or seven suitable airfields.

This initiative is part of the Agile Combat Employment (ACE) strategy, which also encompasses the reactivation of World War II airfields that have been dormant for decades. While it sounds straightforward, maintaining equipment supplies at multiple distant and rudimentary locations poses significant challenges. Additionally, the farther an aircraft is from the primary battle space, the less impactful it may be.

Currently, the U.S. is dispatching pilots to various potential locations to assess conditions, measure runways, lay new pavements, and build storage and refueling facilities. Most of the groundwork, infrastructure upgrades, and pre-deployment of supplies are occurring in the Second Island Chain, which is logistically easier than the First Island Chain. While the First Island Chain is of utmost importance, it often requires political negotiations with the respective governments.

The Air Force is in the process of rebuilding Tinian Airport, historically significant as the launch site for the B-29 bombers that dropped atomic bombs on Hiroshima and Nagasaki. Once a bustling airfield with four runways, Tinian has now become overgrown. The officer overseeing the cleanup noted that visibility drops to zero every ten feet, though they are currently achieving high efficiency, clearing areas equivalent to almost eight football fields in a single day. Additionally, the Air Force is refurbishing a shorter, makeshift airstrip at Guam’s naval base, utilizing it for training exercises, and reconstructing taxiways and overgrown parking areas at a northwest airport in Guam, along with building a shelter that can also serve as a hangar.