Iwo Jima South Field

Military operational consolidation and redundancy. After the U.S. secured Iwo Jima in 1945, operations were consolidated at the more centrally located and better-developed Motoyama No. 2 airfield (renamed Central Field, now the site of the modern Iwo Jima Air Base, RJAW). South Field, which was heavily damaged during the battle and less strategically located for post-war operations, was phased out and abandoned.

Abandoned and derelict. The site is a historical landmark and part of the overall Iwo Jima (now officially Iō Tō) memorial landscape. The original runway outlines are still faintly visible in satellite imagery but are completely overgrown with vegetation and are unusable. The entire island is under the jurisdiction of the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force (JMSDF) and access is heavily restricted, primarily limited to military personnel, government officials, and occasional memorial visits for veterans' families.

The airfield, originally constructed by the Japanese Imperial Army and named Motoyama Airfield No. 1, was one of the primary strategic objectives for the U.S. Marines during the Battle of Iwo Jima in February-March 1945. After its capture on the second day of the invasion (D+1), U.S. Navy Seabees and Army engineers quickly repaired it, renaming it 'South Field'. Its most critical role during World War II was as an emergency landing strip for damaged American B-29 Superfortress bombers returning from raids on mainland Japan. It was also used as a base for P-51 Mustang fighters that provided long-range escort for the B-29s. The ability for damaged bombers to land on Iwo Jima instead of ditching in the Pacific saved the lives of an estimated 24,000 American airmen.

None. There are no plans or prospects to reopen South Field. The island's strategic and logistical aviation needs are fully served by the modern, active Iwo Jima Air Base (ICAO: RJAW, IATA: IWO). The site of South Field is preserved as a historical war relic, and its redevelopment is extremely unlikely due to its historical significance and the restricted nature of the entire island.