Tales of the flying the line in an USAF C130 in the Pacific theater 1973-1993
The Marcus Island Run . . .
Aerial view of Marcus Island and the runway which supports the US Coast Guard station located there. Marcus Island is the southernmost island in the Japanese chain. 18 June 1987 (USAF photo by CMSGT Don Sutherland)
Approximately 1150 miles south east of Tokyo, Japan sits its most distant ward, Minami Torishima. A one square mile triangular shaped island, it is now home to a few Japanese government members of the Japan Meteorological Agency, JSDF, and Japan Coast Guard.
Looking at Minami Torishima today. The Japanese installation is at the northern end of the runway. The US Coast Guard station was on the southern side of the island. In this picture, the Coast Guard has been replaced with a civilian company mining rare earth minerals from the seabed near Marcus Island. The LORAN tower has been removed.
Also known as Marcus Island to the Americans, the ownership of Minami Torishima has changed hands between the United States and Japan several times. During World War 2, it had up to 4500 Japanese defenders on the island and two runways. While never invaded by the United States, it was repeatedly bombed by the United States Army Air Forces and US Navy. By war’s end, the 2000 personel of the Japanese garrison was starving and surrendered peacefully to the Americans on 31 August, 1945. For a few years after the war, it was an important hub for the Naval Air Transport Command for flights between Hawaii and Japan. By 1947 it was abandoned by the Americans. The need for a weather reporting facility in that part of the Pacific brought back a team of Japanese weather men who manned a weather station there from 1951 until 1964. In 1964, the United States built a LORAN C station there and manned it with about 30 US Coast Guard men.
The US Weather Service took over the weather station from the Japanese. In 1968, the island was turned back over to the Japanese but the United States retained the right to maintain the USCG LORAN C station there. And, in 1993, it too was turned back over to the Japanese. It was the weekly supply runs to the USCG LORAN station that brought the C130s to Marcus Island.
MARCUS ISLAND 18 June 1987 (USAF photo by CMSGT Don Sutherland)
A typical mission to Marcus Island from Yokota . . .
Each Thursday, a C130E would depart Yokota AB for the four hour flight to Marcus, bringing with it personnel, mail/cargo, and provisions from the Commissary at Yokota AB.
At altitude, flying into the sun toward Marcus Island. (Madden photo)
The view from the flight deck as we flew east into the morning sun toward Marcus Island. (Madden photo)
Arriving south of Marcus Island, looking north. (Madden Photo)
Looking north west from around a 1000 feet on 18 June 1987. USCG station to the left, bottom. The ship landing area/dock that was built in the 1930s can be seen to the right of the USCG station on the beach. The 1350′ LORAN C tower towering to the right bottom. And the JASDF area behind the tower. (USAF photo by CMST Don Sutherland)
Flying a low approach to the left of Runway 05 at RJAM, on the west side of the island. USCG station to the right of the approach end. (Madden photo)
A modern map of Minami Torishima.
Aircraft 637877, a C130E of the 345 TAS parked on the west side of the runway. (Madden Photo)
Parked on the runway, facing south at Marcu Island. Unloading passengers. C130E from 345 TAS out of Yokota AB, Japan. (Madden Photo)
A young Coastie begins his walk to his new year long assignment to Marcus Island. The living quarters and offices are behind him, flag pole to the right of the building. Facing south. (Madden Photo)
I believe this is the western side of the island, looking north (Madden photo)
Looking south on the western side of the island. This particular part of the island was noted by Bryan in 1902 as a gathering place for birds. (Madden photo)
Looking west along the southern beach. The end of the runway is on the right of the picture (Madden photo)
Looking east along the south beach of Marcus Island. The old Japanese dock/landing ramp can be seen in the middle of the picture, the LORAN C tower on the upper left. The USCG station is just off camera to the left (Madden photo)The south side of the USCG station with the LORAN C tower behind. The swimming pool and Marcus tank would be behind me (Madden photo)
The Marcus tank, sitting beside the swimming pool, looking south from the USCG building. (Madden photo)
The Marcus tanks lined up for inspection after the war (US Archives)
View from an F6F Grumman Hellcat, looking south east, of Marcus Island under attack on August 31, 1943. This as the first use of the Hellcat in combat. (USN photo)
Looking south at Marcus Island under attack on September 1, 1943 (USN photo)
Looking south west at Marcus Island under attack by the Navy on August 31, 1943 ( U.S. Navy photo 80-G-474367 – National Archives and Records Administration )
A recent visit to Marcus by a Japanese group. Probably around 2017
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a3BYeZVPHzw
Today the island is home to a 12 member Maritime Self Defense Force unit and 20-odd officials from the Japan Meteorological Agency and the Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism Ministry. The US Coast Guard station and tower are gone. A new wharf has been built on the south side of the island just east of the WW2 pier.
Japanese Defense Minister Taro Kono inspects the construction site of the new concrete quay on Minamitorishima Island. Part of the old pier from WW2 days can be seen to the right in the picure.Looking west at Marcus Island. The new quay can be seen on the left of the picture, under the propeller.
