Guam: A Biogeographic and Maritime Cultural Landscape Exploration of a World War II Amphibious Battlefield
January 27-February 25, 2023 // July 27-August 23, 2023
Expedition Features
From January 27-February 25, 2023, a team of researchers started their search for submerged shipwrecks, aircraft, amphibious vehicles, artillery and other artifacts related to the 1944 invasion of Guam during World War II. From July 27 to August 23, 2023, they will return to the field to explore targets they identified during their earlier visit. View Expedition Overview
Using Oral History to Understand Impacts of World War II Reef Destruction on Guam Today
October 10, 2023
During this project, a National Park Service Scientists-in-Parks intern helped oversee an oral history project focusing on the reef landscapes within War in the Pacific National Historical Park: how these landscapes have been used throughout different periods in Guam's history and how they may have been affected by World War II.
Read moreMeasuring Elevation to Understand Coastal Change
September 18, 2023
Coastal elevation data allow scientists to document how the coastal environment is changing over time. At War in the Pacific National Historical Park (WAPA), such data is particularly important since past human activities, such as those related to World War II, and natural events, such as typhoons, have contributed to the current shape and structure of the coast.
Read moreProject Findings Once "Paved" the Way for Invasion
August 31, 2023
While investigating previously identified side-scan sonar and magnetometer targets in the waters off Guam's World War II (WWII) landing beaches, technical divers from the National Park Service Submerged Resources Center and the NOAA Diving Program discovered five sections of pierced steel planking (PSP), also known as "Marston mats," off Agat beach.
Read moreTechnical Divers Enable Greater Access to Our Past
August 17, 2023
In July 2023, the project team returned to Guam to investigate previously identified targets. As part of this effort, a technical diving team composed of divers from the National Park Service Submerged Resources Center and the NOAA Diving Program spent a week investigating deepwater targets using closed circuit rebreathers.
Read moreDocumenting Underwater World War II Blast Artifacts
April 11, 2023
In 1944, U.S. underwater demolition teams used explosives on and around Guam’s barrier reef to aid the U.S. invasion of the Japanese-held island. Almost 80 years later, during this 2023 project, our project team located and documented some of the blast sites off the landing beaches of Asan and Agat.
Read moreExploring Guam’s World War II Amphibious Battlefield
February 21, 2023
Shortly after the December 7, 1941, Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor, the Japanese invaded the island of Guam and quickly seized control from a small number of American forces and the Guam Insular Force Guard who were unprepared for the attack. The purpose of this project is to document and analyze remains from the battle that are still present on the seafloor today.
Read moreExpedition Overview
January 20, 2023
From January 27-February 25, 2023, a team of researchers will begin their search for submerged shipwrecks, aircraft, amphibious vehicles, artillery and other artifacts related to the 1944 invasion of Guam during World War II.
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