Iwo Jima North Field

Military consolidation and post-war demobilization. After WWII, the strategic need for three large airfields on the small island ceased. The US military consolidated its operations at the more centrally located and better-developed Central Field (now Iwo Jima Air Base, RJAW). North Field was deemed redundant and subsequently abandoned.

The site is completely abandoned and has been largely reclaimed by nature. The faint, ghostly outlines of its two former runways are still visible on satellite imagery but are heavily overgrown with vegetation and volcanic scrub. The entire island of Iō Tō (the official Japanese name for Iwo Jima since 2007) is a restricted-access military installation operated by the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force (JMSDF). The only active airfield on the island is the modern Iwo Jima Air Base (ICAO: RJAW), which was built upon the site of the former Central Field.

Iwo Jima North Field, known as Motoyama Airfield No. 2 by the Japanese during its construction, was a key strategic objective during the Battle of Iwo Jima (February-March 1945). The entire battle was fought primarily to capture the island's airfields. The goal was to provide a vital base for American P-51 Mustang fighters to escort B-29 Superfortress bombers on long-range missions to mainland Japan, and to serve as an emergency landing site for damaged bombers returning from raids. After its capture by US forces, it was repaired and expanded by US Navy Seabees. It became operational as North Field and was used by the U.S. Army Air Forces' VII Fighter Command to launch fighter escort and strike missions until the end of the war. Its capture and use directly contributed to the success of the strategic bombing campaign against Japan.

There are no known plans or prospects for reopening North Field. The island is a restricted military zone with no permanent civilian population, and the existing Iwo Jima Air Base (RJAW) is more than sufficient for all current and foreseen operational needs. The site is considered a historical battlefield and is preserved as such, with access to the island strictly controlled by the Japanese government.