Until the capture of Iwo Jima, Japanese fighters based on that island flew regular low-altitude bombing and strafing raids against the Marianas airfields. The most spectacular of these had occurred on November 27, when fifteen Zero fighters flew south from Iwo Jima at wavetop altitude, ducking under Saipan’s radar screens, and appeared without warning over Isley Field. Achieving complete surprise, the Zeros strafed B-29s parked on the hardstands, destroying three and damaging eight more.
