Pierced Steel Planking
Once the dirt runway was level, engineers laid pierced steel planking to create an all-weather runway. After the invasion of Leyte, Philippines, in October 1944, heavy Japanese naval and aerial attacks forced the U.S. Navy to withdraw its carriers. The only airpower available to American ground forces came from aircraft flying from airstrips hastily construction by aviation engineers, like this airstrip at Taclobon, Leyte. In spite of Japanese bombing raids and paratrooper attacks, the overcrowded airstrips - note the Navy aircraft next to the PSP - proved vital to victory. (U.S. Air Force photo)