Rabaul on New Britain in the South Pacific was a major Japanese base in WWII. After Japan took it from Australia in early 1942, Rabaul was developed into a major staging base for Japan's drive against Australia and the Southern Pacific. While it was not invaded, it was the site of intensive air-to-air and air-to-naval engagements.

Plenty of photos from the war document what it looked like then. What does it look like today?

http://rabauldailyphoto-jules.blogspot.com/2007/11/kunai-grass.html