Mark VII -> RE: Trip to Palau and Peleliu (1/1/2018 10:19:32 PM)
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After the 81st Division memorial we race across the airfield, or whats left of it. This airfield was the reason why the Americans felt it was important to take Peleliu. As it turned out, the entire Peleliu campaign, which was supposed to take three days and lasted three months, in hindsight was not necessary. As it turned out, the island’s strategic value was questionable. And, the Americans casualty rate was very high. It exceeded that of all other amphibious operations during the Pacific War. The National Museum of the Marine Corps called it "the bitterest battle of the war for the Marines". The airfield is no longer usable for fixed wing aircraft. However, there is a helipad that was built when the Emperor of Japan visited in April, 2015. [image]local://upfiles/9748/FD694B008CA04C59A19FF7865E065739.jpg[/image]
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