Us Official Photographs

Coral Hill at Futema

Located at the south end of the B-29 "Superfortress" strip at Futema is this coral hill, which was removed to clean the approach for the super bombers. The coral taken from this hill was used for surfacing of the strip, taxiway and hardstand. At the time this picture was taken Lorrain shovels were busy filling trucks with the loosened coral that was blasted free from the quarry by TNT. Crushed and small pieces of coral were used for the base and surface, while the large coral boulders were used to fill gullies that crossed the field. The 806th EAB started work on this 7500 foot strip on 15 June 1945 and expected it to be completed by the 1st of September 1945. Okinawa, Ryukyu Retto, 30 June 1945.