The United States of War:
A Global History of America's Endless Conflicts, from Columbus to the Islamic State
(University of California Press, October 2020)
Additional tables from World War II bases planning cited in endnotes.
Table 1: “US Requirements for Post-War Air Bases” according to the “Base Bible”
Blue Bases
“Required for direct defense of U.S., its leased areas and possessions, including Philippines; U.S. to have exclusive military rights, except as modified by agreement.”
Alaska (U.S.)
Aleutian Islands (U.S.)
Canal Zone [Panama] (U.S.)
Hawaiian Islands (U.S.)
Johnston Island (U.S.)
Guam Island (U.S.)
Midway Island (U.S.)
Palmyra Island (U.S.)
Philippines Islands (north and south areas) (U.S.)
Puerto Rico (U.S.)
Samoa Islands (U.S.)
Wake Island (U.S.)
Aiutaki Island (New Zealand)
Bermuda Island (U.K.)
Canton Island (U.S. and U.K.)
Christmas Island (U.S. and U.K.)
Cuba – Batista and San Julian
Galapagos Islands (Minimum—Baltra, North Seymour and Santa Cruz Islands) (Ecuador)
Guatemala
Jamaica (U.K.)
Marquesas Islands (France)
Newfoundland (U.K.)
Society Islands (France)
Tongareva (Penrhyn) area (New Zealand)
Trinidad (U.K.)
Bonin Islands [Ogisawara] (Japan)
Caroline Islands (Japan)
Halmahera Island (Japan)
Marcus Island (Japan)
Mariana Islands [Northern] (Japan)
Marshall Islands (Japan)
Palau Islands (Japan)
Green Bases
“Required for defense of Western Hemisphere, in addition to Blue Bases; U.S. to have military rights—if necessary, on a reciprocal basis—as defined by agreements.”
Ascension Is. (U.K.)
Azores Islands (Portugal)
Brazil—Belem and Natal
British Guiana—Georgetown (U.K.)
Canada
Baffin Island
Churchill
Edmonton
Goose Bay
Sandy Point
Southampton Island
The Pas (area)
Whitehorse
Canary Islands (Spain)
Cape Verde Islands (Portugal)
Clipperton Island (France)
Ecuador—Salinas
French Guiana—Cayenne
French West Africa [Senegal]—Yof and Eknes, Dakar
Greenland
Ikateq
Narsarasuak
Sondre Stromfjord
Iceland—Keflavik area and Reykjavik area
Liberia—Fisherman’s Lake and Roberts Field
Mexico—Acapulco and Mazatlan
Morocco—Casablanca and/or Marrakech, and Port Lyautey (France)
Credit: Places appear with the original spelling and in the order listed. Source: Joint Chiefs of Staff, “U.S. Requirements for Post-War Air Bases,” attachment, n.d. NARA, RG 107, Secretary of War, Office of the Assistant Secretary of War for Air, Plans, Policies and Agreements 1943-47, Boxes 199-200, A1 219/390/10/8/3.
Table 2: Island Locations Where the U.S. Navy Desired Bases or Rights to Build Bases
On an “Exclusive” Basis or, at Minimum, on a “Joint” Basis (Shared with a Host Country or Colonial Power)
Pacific Ocean
Marshall Islands
Caroline Islands
Mariana Islands
Ryukyus [Okinawa]
Bonin-Volcano Group [Ogisawara Islands]
Marcus Island
Manus
Galapagos*
Formosa [Taiwan]*
Funafuti*
Canton [Guangzhou]* [Minimum rights desired: Exclusive]
Christmas* [Minimum rights desired: Exclusive]
Clipperton*
Philippines
Atlantic Ocean
Iceland*
Greenland*
Ascension*
Brazil*
On a “Joint” Basis (Shared with a Host Country or Colonial Power) or, at Minimum, on a “Participating” Basis (Allowing Access to Facilities)
Pacific Ocean
Rabaul
Savaii-Upolu (Samoa)
Salinas (Ecuador)*
Talara (Peru)*
Tarawa*
Morotal*
Biak*
Guadalcanal – Tulagi*
Espiritu Santo*
Noumea*
Viti Levu*
Bora Bora*
Marquesas (Nuku Hiva)* [Transit rights only]
Aitutaki* [Transit rights only]
Atlantic Ocean
Azores*
Cape Verde Islands*
Canary Islands*
Casablanca-Port Lyautey*
Dakar*
Monrovia*
St. Julian and La Fe (Cuba)*
Surinam (Dutch Guiana)*
Curacao*
* “The acquisition of rights in these areas does not necessarily mean that the Navy intends actually to maintain forces or facilities at all of these locations, but considers that the rights to do so should be acquired.”
Credit: Areas appear in the order listed by the Navy. When more than one name appears for an area, the initial name is the name and spelling used by the Navy at the time. The Navy also noted the possibility of seeking additional base or transit rights in Brazil, under the terms of a secret 1944 agreement providing post-war access to Brazilian airports and air bases, as well as other base rights in South and Central America and Canada.
A Global History of America's Endless Conflicts, from Columbus to the Islamic State
(University of California Press, October 2020)
Additional tables from World War II bases planning cited in endnotes.
Table 1: “US Requirements for Post-War Air Bases” according to the “Base Bible”
Blue Bases
“Required for direct defense of U.S., its leased areas and possessions, including Philippines; U.S. to have exclusive military rights, except as modified by agreement.”
Alaska (U.S.)
Aleutian Islands (U.S.)
Canal Zone [Panama] (U.S.)
Hawaiian Islands (U.S.)
Johnston Island (U.S.)
Guam Island (U.S.)
Midway Island (U.S.)
Palmyra Island (U.S.)
Philippines Islands (north and south areas) (U.S.)
Puerto Rico (U.S.)
Samoa Islands (U.S.)
Wake Island (U.S.)
Aiutaki Island (New Zealand)
Bermuda Island (U.K.)
Canton Island (U.S. and U.K.)
Christmas Island (U.S. and U.K.)
Cuba – Batista and San Julian
Galapagos Islands (Minimum—Baltra, North Seymour and Santa Cruz Islands) (Ecuador)
Guatemala
Jamaica (U.K.)
Marquesas Islands (France)
Newfoundland (U.K.)
Society Islands (France)
Tongareva (Penrhyn) area (New Zealand)
Trinidad (U.K.)
Bonin Islands [Ogisawara] (Japan)
Caroline Islands (Japan)
Halmahera Island (Japan)
Marcus Island (Japan)
Mariana Islands [Northern] (Japan)
Marshall Islands (Japan)
Palau Islands (Japan)
Green Bases
“Required for defense of Western Hemisphere, in addition to Blue Bases; U.S. to have military rights—if necessary, on a reciprocal basis—as defined by agreements.”
Ascension Is. (U.K.)
Azores Islands (Portugal)
Brazil—Belem and Natal
British Guiana—Georgetown (U.K.)
Canada
Baffin Island
Churchill
Edmonton
Goose Bay
Sandy Point
Southampton Island
The Pas (area)
Whitehorse
Canary Islands (Spain)
Cape Verde Islands (Portugal)
Clipperton Island (France)
Ecuador—Salinas
French Guiana—Cayenne
French West Africa [Senegal]—Yof and Eknes, Dakar
Greenland
Ikateq
Narsarasuak
Sondre Stromfjord
Iceland—Keflavik area and Reykjavik area
Liberia—Fisherman’s Lake and Roberts Field
Mexico—Acapulco and Mazatlan
Morocco—Casablanca and/or Marrakech, and Port Lyautey (France)
Credit: Places appear with the original spelling and in the order listed. Source: Joint Chiefs of Staff, “U.S. Requirements for Post-War Air Bases,” attachment, n.d. NARA, RG 107, Secretary of War, Office of the Assistant Secretary of War for Air, Plans, Policies and Agreements 1943-47, Boxes 199-200, A1 219/390/10/8/3.
Table 2: Island Locations Where the U.S. Navy Desired Bases or Rights to Build Bases
On an “Exclusive” Basis or, at Minimum, on a “Joint” Basis (Shared with a Host Country or Colonial Power)
Pacific Ocean
Marshall Islands
Caroline Islands
Mariana Islands
Ryukyus [Okinawa]
Bonin-Volcano Group [Ogisawara Islands]
Marcus Island
Manus
Galapagos*
Formosa [Taiwan]*
Funafuti*
Canton [Guangzhou]* [Minimum rights desired: Exclusive]
Christmas* [Minimum rights desired: Exclusive]
Clipperton*
Philippines
Atlantic Ocean
Iceland*
Greenland*
Ascension*
Brazil*
On a “Joint” Basis (Shared with a Host Country or Colonial Power) or, at Minimum, on a “Participating” Basis (Allowing Access to Facilities)
Pacific Ocean
Rabaul
Savaii-Upolu (Samoa)
Salinas (Ecuador)*
Talara (Peru)*
Tarawa*
Morotal*
Biak*
Guadalcanal – Tulagi*
Espiritu Santo*
Noumea*
Viti Levu*
Bora Bora*
Marquesas (Nuku Hiva)* [Transit rights only]
Aitutaki* [Transit rights only]
Atlantic Ocean
Azores*
Cape Verde Islands*
Canary Islands*
Casablanca-Port Lyautey*
Dakar*
Monrovia*
St. Julian and La Fe (Cuba)*
Surinam (Dutch Guiana)*
Curacao*
* “The acquisition of rights in these areas does not necessarily mean that the Navy intends actually to maintain forces or facilities at all of these locations, but considers that the rights to do so should be acquired.”
Credit: Areas appear in the order listed by the Navy. When more than one name appears for an area, the initial name is the name and spelling used by the Navy at the time. The Navy also noted the possibility of seeking additional base or transit rights in Brazil, under the terms of a secret 1944 agreement providing post-war access to Brazilian airports and air bases, as well as other base rights in South and Central America and Canada.