The US military has begun work in restoring an Air Force base in Guam which was last used during WWII.

The project comes in light of China’s growing influence in the Indo-Pacific has drawn global attention, particularly regarding its naval presence.

Once restored, the base will serve as a key location for potential flight operations in the region, should future conflicts arise. The restoration is a joint effort involving the U.S. Air Force, U.S. Navy, and U.S. Marine Corps.

A U.S. Air Force C-130H “Hercules” transport aircraft flies over the North Field on Tinian of the Northern Mariana Islands on February 26, 2015. Photo credit: U.S. Air Force/Tech. Sgt. Jason Robertson

Strategic WWII Base

The base served as a strategic location during WWII when b-29 bombers launched their flights from the base. The restoration highlights the U.S.’s ongoing commitment to maintaining a strong military presence and readiness in the Indo-Pacific.

Two specialized teams have recently been dispatched to Base Tinian: the 513th Expeditionary Red Horse Squadron and the 356th Expeditionary Prime Base Engineer Emergency Force Squadron. These teams have made significant progress, clearing 99% of the overgrowth on the runways, taxiways, and ramps. They have also taken measures to protect local bird species while carrying out their work.

Admiral Samuel Paparo, center, the commander of the U.S. Indo-Pacific Command, meets airmen with the U.S. Air Force 513th Expeditionary Rapid Engineer Deployable Heavy Operational Repair Squadron on Tinian during a visit on July 20. Photo credit: Chief Mass Communication Specialist Shannon M. Smith/U.S. Navy

The teams have also safely removed unexploded ordnance left behind from WWII, dating back to the base’s closure in 1946.

The ongoing restoration of the base not only enforce the U.S. military presence but also emphasizes the base’s continued strategic relevance, as the restoration aims to strengthen the U.S. military’s operational capacity in the region.