JAPANESE and U.S. aircraft stand together on the Aslito airstrip at Saipan. Much of the enemy air force scheduled to defend the Marianas was destroyed on the ground before it could rise to battle attacking U.S. planes. Many other Jap aircraft were captured intact when the invading forces took possession of the airstrip. Captured enemy planes are reconstructed if possible and flown to study their characteristics, materials used and construction. Technical air officers examine the aircraft to see whether the enemy is improving on its planes or whether he is using substitute materials and sacrificing plane performance. This photo, taken by a crewman on the first Navy Liberator to land on the captured field show the wreckage of hangers and other buildings, debris of shattered equipment, captured planes on apron.
