Marston Mat

WWII US Landing Mat

During World War II, U.S. military engineering units used special plates called Marston Mat (or PSP—Pierced Steel Planking) to rapidly construct temporary field airfields. These steel plates withstood heavy loads and enabled the installation of stable, durable airfield surfaces for various aircraft on soft or unstable ground. Their perforated design allowed water to drain easily from the surface without compromising the covering’s quality. The Marston Mat, named after its first testing location near Marston, North Carolina, in November 1941, became widely used in combat operations across the Pacific theater, North Africa, and Europe. U.S. Army and Navy engineering units could construct airfields of various sizes in just days using these plates. After the war, the plates found new life in peaceful applications, particularly in building temporary roads and platforms.