X-Nico

10 unusual facts about Saipan


Al Meyerhoff

One of his cases sought to eliminate sweatshop conditions for workers on the island of Saipan, a part of the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands that operates under the jurisdiction of the United States court system.

Consolidated Vultee XP-81

While 13 YP-81 pre-production aircraft had been ordered, the capture of Guam and Saipan removed the need for long-range, high-speed escort fighters and, then, just before VJ Day the contract was cancelled, after 85% of the engineering was completed.

Draper Kauffman

His wartime service also included participation in the invasions of Saipan, Tinian, Iwo Jima, and Okinawa.

As commander of UDT 5, he participated in the invasion of Saipan, and received a second Navy Cross for leading his team in a daylight reconnaissance of fortified enemy beaches under heavy fire, and on 10 July 1944, leading a night reconnaissance of heavily defended beaches at Tinian island.

Japanese minelayer Sarushima

On April 15, 1944, Sarushima departed Tokyo with a convoy for Saipan, returning safety on May 4.

Kawanishi H8K

The submerged remains of an H8K can be found off the west coast of Saipan, where it is a popular scuba diving attraction known erroneously as the "B-29", or the "Emily".

Keahiwai

Following the release of "Satisfied", they toured the pacific islands of Guam and Saipan.

KSDA-FM

The FM station was known as JOY 92 until mid-2008, when GNBC secured a construction permit for a transmitter on Saipan.

Mañagaha

Mañagaha is a small islet which lies off the west coast of Saipan within its lagoon.

Tan Holdings FC

Tan Holdings Football Club, also known as the THFC, is a M*League Division 1 club, which plays in the island of Saipan.


465th Air Refueling Squadron

Following months of delays, the squadron arrived in the Pacific Theater, being assigned to Ie Shima in the Ryukyu Islands on 28 June 1945 from Saipan/Tinian.

507th Air Refueling Wing

Following months of delays, the 507th arrived in the Pacific Theater, being assigned to Ie Shima in the Ryukyu Islands on 28 June 1945 from Saipan/Tinian.

73d Air Division

From Saipan, the groups of the 73d Bomb Wing flew several bombing missions against Truk to gain combat experience.

Athletics at the Micronesian Games

Athletics competitions have been held at the quadrennial Micronesian Games, that are open for the 10 member federations of the Micronesian Games Council, since the inaugural edition 1969 in Saipan, then Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands (now Northern Mariana Islands).

Benigno Fitial

Born on November 27, 1945, and raised in a Satawalese family, Fitial graduated with honors from Saipan's Mt. Carmel High School in 1964.

Charles A. Lockwood

He oversaw the moving forward of the Pacific Fleet submarine bases from Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, and Australia to places like Saipan - where a submarine tender was stationed for a period of time - Guam, the Admiralty Islands, and Subic Bay, the Philippines.

J. T. Rutherford

As an assault amphibian vehicle crewman, he landed in the first waves on D-Day at Tarawa, Saipan, where he was wounded, and Tinian.

Jack Abramoff CNMI scandal

The Jack Abramoff CNMI scandal involves the efforts of Jack Abramoff, other lobbyists, and government officials to change or prevent, or both, Congressional action regarding the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands (CNMI) and businesses on Saipan, its capital, commercial center, and one of its three principal islands.

Japanese air attacks on the Mariana Islands

Nimitz ordered a major attack on Iwo Jima following the raids of November 27 and dispatched Lieutenant General Millard Harmon, the commander of Army Air Forces in the Pacific Ocean Areas, from Hawaii to Saipan to oversee this operation.

Small numbers of Japanese aircraft flying from Guam, Peleliu, Iwo Jima and Truk made occasional raids on the American forces on Saipan during the fighting there, but caused little damage.

Japanese cruiser Asama

On 21 August 1920, it made a training voyage to Hong Kong, Singapore, Columbo, Durban, Cape Town, Rio de Janeiro, Montevideo, Valparaíso, Tahiti, Truk and Saipan, thus circumnavigating the globe east to west.

Japanese food supply ship Irako

In January 1942, she started sailing between the Japanese homeland (Kure and Yokosuka) to the front, including Saipan, Truk, and Davao.

Juan Pan Guerrero

Juan Pan Guerrero was born on December 10, 1949, at the United States Naval Hospital, in Maturana Hill, Saipan.

KCNM

KNUT, a radio station (101.1 FM) licensed to Garapan-Saipan, Northern Mariana Islands, which held the call sign KCNM-FM from 1999 to 2010

National Wrestling League

The National Wrestling League, headquartered out of Hagerstown, Maryland, was founded by Dick Caricofe in 1988, and has held professional wrestling events throughout the United States and overseas in Guam, Saipan, Pohnpei, Hawaiian Islands, Palau, and the Marshall Islands.

Our Airline

Air Nauru once had a remarkably comprehensive network in the Asia-Pacific, with service to Hong Kong, Kagoshima, Taipei, Okinawa, Singapore, Guam, Saipan, Koror, Chuuk, Pohnpei, Kosrae, Majuro, Tarawa, Honolulu, Honiara, Port Vila, Noumea, Apia, Pago Pago, Nadi, Tonga, Kanton Island, Niue, Raratonga, Auckland, Melbourne, Sydney, Brisbane, and Christmas Island.

Philippine deer

It was also introduced to Rota, Saipan, and Pohnpei but those populations did not take hold like they did in Guam.

Raymond Murray

As a Lieutenant Colonel on Saipan during World War II, General Murray was awarded his first Navy Cross for extraordinary heroism under fire, June 15, 1944, while commanding the 2nd Battalion 6th Marines, 2nd Marine Division.

Rex Sorensen

Sorensen Media Group also operates another ABC affiliate, KPPI-LP (a repeater of KTGM) at Garapan on Saipan.

Scouting in Hawaii

Aloha Council Pacific Basin District outreach efforts in the Pacific continue to grow with over 835 Boy Scouts and 240 Cub Scouts attending camps on Chuuk, Pohnpei, Kosrae, Saipan, Kwajalein, Rongelap, Majuro, Yap and Palau.

Tom Humphries

His received international attention in May 2002 for his interview of Irish football player Roy Keane on the island of Saipan while the Irish football team were preparing to take part in the 2002 football World Cup.

United States Navy Dental Corps

Numerous dental officers were killed in action aboard war ships and in major battles in Guadalcanal, Tarawa, Saipan, and Iwo Jima.

Wayne Terwilliger

While overseas, Corporal Terwilliger participated in the invasions of Tinian and Iwo Jima, and had his tank knocked out at Saipan.