Size: 20 x 47 inches

This ‘CONFIDENTIAL’ marked Marinas Islands map titled ‘Island of Guam’  is an advance copy map showing Tumon Bay and the surrounding areas of Agana Bay. This whole map is a combined section of map sheet 5 and map sheet 6 taped together in the middle of making a larger map overall.

The map itself is a ‘Special Air and Gunnery Target Map’ is approved by R.K. Turner, Vice Admiral of the US Navy and Commander V Amphibious Force. This special grid system is superimposed on this map and purple color and is meant to be used for pinpoint designation for both artillery and naval fire. The arbitrary target system imposed on this map is done in blue, purple, and salmon colors.  The map also displays a legend showing completed roads, unsurfaced road trails, as well as projected roads labeled as “Possibly complete by the Japs”. The corrections made on this map are dated up to January 1st of 1942. This map was then revised by the 64th Engineer Battalion on April of 1944.  Lastly, this map was produced by the 30th Engineer  Topographical Battalion on March of 1945. What makes this map extremely special is the Marine Corps School of Quantico, Virginia stamp seen in both the right and left side sections of this map. In 1934, Amphibious Warfare Doctrine, along with special amphibious landing crafts for World War II were developed here. These Amphibious Warfare techniques, developed in the years before World War II, made victory possible in the Pacific theater. Quantico trained over 15,000 USMC and other service officers in these techniques. In 1942, over 50,000 acres (20,000 ha) were purchased by the federal government and added to Quantico, making up what is now the base west of Interstate 95. The expansion was needed for additional range and maneuver training areas during World War II. We have not seen another World War II era map of this caliber with the Marine Corps School of Quantico Virginia stamp. It is our belief that this map was used for the training of WWII Marine Corps soldiers and was thus used as a training tool for training purposes on how to specially designated targets for artillery and naval fire.