In 1962 Saipan became the headquarters of the U.S. administered United Nations trust territories of the Pacific Islands till 1986.

[7] The first Seabee Construction Battalions landed with the United States Marine Corps on June 15, 1944, at Chalan Kanoa on the west coast of Saipan.

The northern side airfield was 4,500 feet (1,400 m) long, US Navy Grumman TBF Avengers were the first to use the runway.

The captured aviation fuel tanks were usable and the Seabees filled them from shore tankers.

After the repairs were complete, United States Army Air Forces started patrols fights from the runway also.

On September 13, 1944, the Seabees were given the order to turn Saipan into a major Advance Base.

Large ships in need of repair went to Naval Advance Base Espiritu Santo.

Many of the wounded troops from the Battle of Iwo Jima and the Okinawa campaign were taken to the hospital on Saipan.