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Desert Training Center

December 15, 2023

The Desert Training Center (DTC), also known as California–Arizona Maneuver Area (CAMA), was a World War II training facility established in the Mojave Desert and Sonoran Desert, largely in Southern California and Western Arizona in 1942.

Desert Training Center
Part of United States Army
Southern California/Western Arizona
Map of Desert Training Center
Coordinates33°40′N 115°43′W / 33.667°N 115.717°W / 33.667; -115.717
TypeArmy Training Area
Site history
Built1942
In use1942–1944
Garrison information
Past
commanders		Major General George S. Patton, Jr., April–August 1942.
Desert Training Center map US Army 1943

Its mission was to train United States Army and Army Air Forces units and personnel to live and fight in the desert, to test and develop suitable equipment, and to develop tactical doctrines, techniques and training methods.

It was a key training facility for units engaged in combat during the 1942–1943 North African campaign. It stretched from the outskirts of Pomona, California eastward to within 50 miles of Phoenix, Arizona, southward to the suburbs of Yuma, Arizona and northward into the southern tip of Nevada.

History edit

 
Catholic Chapel at Camp Iron Mountain, WW2 era. Camp Iron Mountain is the best-preserved divisional camp today. Now preserved in Mojave Trails National Monument.

This simulated theater of operation was the largest military training ground in the history of military maneuvers. A site near Shavers Summit (now known as Chiriaco Summit) between Indio and Desert Center, was selected as the headquarters of the DTC. The site, called Camp Young, was the world's largest army post.

Major General George S. Patton Jr. came to Camp Young as the first commanding general of the DTC. As a native of southern California, Patton knew the area well from his youth and from having participated in army maneuvers in the Mojave Desert in the 1930s. His first orders were to select other areas within the desert that would be suitable for the large-scale maneuvers necessary to prepare American soldiers for combat against the German Afrika Korps in the North African desert.

Patton and his advanced team designated various locations within the area where tent camps would be built. The camps were situated so that each unit could train individually without interfering with the other. Airfields, hospitals, supply depots and sites for other support services were selected as was a corps maneuvering area. The plan was that each division and or major unit would train in its own area, and near the end of its training period would participate in a corps (two divisions or more) exercise in the corps maneuvering area at Palen Pass. Upon completion of the corps exercise, the trained units would leave the DTC, and new units would arrive to begin their training and the process repeated.

By March 1943, the North African campaign was in its final stages and the primary mission of the DTC had changed. By the middle of 1943, the troops who originally came for desert training maneuvers were now deployed worldwide. Therefore, to reflect that change in mission, the name of the center was changed to the California-Arizona Maneuver Area (C-AMA or CAMA). The CAMA was to serve as a theater of operations to train combat troops, service units and staff under conditions similar to those which might be encountered overseas. The CAMA was enlarged to include both a communications zone and combat zone, approximately 350 miles wide and 250 miles long.[1][2] Due to a severe deficit of service units beginning in the winter of 1943, it was decided that maneuvers in CAMA would cease as of 15 April 1944, with internal operations continuing until 1 May, after which the center would be officially discontinued.

Lineage edit

  • Activated 1 April 1942[3]
  • Redesignated California-Arizona Maneuver Area, 20 October 1943[4]
  • Closed 1 July 1944[5]

Facilities edit

 
Camp Ibis, 607th Tank Destroyer Battalion, circa 1942
 
Training at Camp Iron Mountain, 1942

Army Divisional Camps edit

Army Depots edit

Army Airfields edit

 
Camp Goffs Army Field Train station, 1943
 
Camp Goffs Army Field, 1943
 
Desert Training Center, California-Arizona Maneuver Area, former Camp Goffs, Mojave Desert

Hospitals edit

Mohave Maneuver Area C edit

 
Desert Training Center Mohave Maneuver Area C
 
Former Desert Training Center Mohave Maneuver Area C. River crossing during Exercise Desert Strike in 1964

In May 1964 part of the former Desert Training Center was reacquired for the purpose of Exercise Desert Strike. The former Mohave Maneuver Area C was included in this area and used as part of the training ground for the two-week exercise. The exercise had large maneuvers and some river crossing training. Mohave Maneuver Area C was 781,452 acres located in Mohave County, Arizona.[8]

Present day sites edit

Most of the sites can be visited, but some are difficult to reach. In most cases the only things that remain at the camp sites are streets, sidewalks, building foundations, patterns of hand-laid rocks for various purposes and trash dumps.

Monuments have been erected at some of the camp sites and there are areas within CAMA that are fenced off with danger signs warning of unexploded ordnance.

The General George S. Patton Memorial Museum is located near the former entrance of Camp Young.

California Historical Landmark edit

California Historical Landmarks Marker at Desert Training Center sites reads:

Camp Pilot Knob – Imperial

  • NO. 985 DESERT TRAINING CENTER, CALIFORNIA–ARIZONA MANEUVER AREA (ESTABLISHED BY MAJOR GENERAL GEORGE S. PATTON, JR.) – CAMP PILOT KNOB – Camp Pilot Knob was a unit of the Desert Training Center, established by General George S. Patton, Jr., to prepare American troops for battle during World War II. It was the largest military training ground ever to exist. At the peak of activity here at Pilot Knob, June–December 1943, the 85th Infantry Division, and the 36th and 44th Reconnaissance Squadrons of the 11th (Mechanized) Cavalry trained here for roles in the liberation of Europe, 1944–45.[9]

Camp Young – Riverside

  • NO. 985 DESERT TRAINING CENTER, CALIFORNIA–ARIZONA MANEUVER AREA (ESTABLISHED BY MAJOR GENERAL GEORGE S. PATTON, JR.) – CAMP YOUNG – The D.T.C. was established by Major General George S. Patton, Jr., in response to a need to train American combat troops for battle in North Africa during World War II. The camp, which began operation in 1942, covered 18,000 square miles. It was the largest military training ground ever to exist. Over one million men were trained at the eleven sub-camps (seven in California).[10]

Camp Granite – Riverside

  • NO. 985 DESERT TRAINING CENTER, CALIFORNIA–ARIZONA MANEUVER AREA (ESTABLISHED BY MAJOR GENERAL GEORGE S. PATTON, JR.) – CAMP GRANITE – Camp Granite was established at this site in the Spring of 1942. It was one of twelve such camps built in the southwestern desert to harden and train United States troops for service on the battlefields of World War II. The Desert Training Center was a simulated theater of operations that included portions of California, Arizona and Nevada. The other camps were Young, Granite, Iron Mountain, Ibis, Clipper, Pilot Knob, Laguna, Horn, Hyder, Bouse and Rice. A total of 13 infantry divisions and 7 armored divisions plus numerous smaller units were trained in this harsh environment. The Training Center was in operation for almost 2 years and was closed early in 1944 when the last units were shipped overseas. During the brief period of operation over one million American soldiers were trained for combat.[11]

Camp Coxcomb – Riverside

  • NO. 985 DESERT TRAINING CENTER, CALIFORNIA–ARIZONA MANEUVER AREA (ESTABLISHED BY MAJOR GENERAL GEORGE S. PATTON, JR.) – CAMP COXCOMB – Camp Coxcomb was established at this site in the Spring of 1942. It was one of twelve such camps built in the southwestern desert to harden and train United States troops for service on the battlefields of World War II. The Desert Training Center was a simulated theater of operations that included portions of California, Arizona and Nevada. The other camps were Young, Granite, Iron Mountain, Ibis, Clipper, Pilot Knob, Laguna, Horn, Hyder, Bouse and Rice. A total of 13 infantry divisions and 7 armored divisions plus numerous smaller units were trained in this harsh environment. The Training Center was in operation for almost 2 years and was closed early in 1944 when the last units were shipped overseas. During the brief period of operation over one million American soldiers were trained for combat.[12]

Camp Iron Mountain – San Bernardino

  • NO. 985 DESERT TRAINING CENTER, CALIFORNIA–ARIZONA MANEUVER AREA (ESTABLISHED BY MAJOR GENERAL GEORGE S. PATTON, JR.) – CAMP IRON MOUNTAIN – Iron Mountain Divisional Camp was established at this site in the Spring of 1942. One of eleven such camps built in the California–Arizona Desert to harden and train United States troops for service on the battlefields of World War II. The first major unit trained here was the 3rd Armored Division followed by elements of the 4th, 5th, 6th, and 7th Armored Divisions. In all, one million men trained in the desert before the Training Center was officially closed in May 1944. The most unique feature built at this camp is the huge relief map built into the desert floor. It can still be seen (1985).'[13]

Camp Clipper – San Bernardino

  • NO. 985 DESERT TRAINING CENTER, CALIFORNIA–ARIZONA MANEUVER AREA (ESTABLISHED BY MAJOR GENERAL GEORGE S. PATTON, JR.) – CAMP CLIPPER – Camp Clipper was established at a site that reached from Essex Road to this location in the Spring of 1942. It was one of twelve such camps built in the southwestern deserts to harden and train United States troops for service on the battlefields of World War II. The Desert Training Center was a simulated theater of operations that included portions of California, Arizona, and Nevada. The other camps were Young, Coxcomb, Iron Mountain, Ibis, Granite, Pilot Knob, Laguna, Horn, Ryder, Bouse and Rice. A total of 13 infantry divisions and 7 armored divisions plus numerous smaller units were trained in this harsh environment. The Training Center was in operation for almost two years and was closed early in 1944 when the last units were shipped overseas. During the brief period of operation over one million American soldiers were trained for combat. The 33rd and 93rd Infantry Divisions were trained here.[14]

Camp Ibis – San Bernardino

  • NO. 985 DESERT TRAINING CENTER, CALIFORNIA–ARIZONA MANEUVER AREA (ESTABLISHED BY MAJOR GENERAL GEORGE S. PATTON, JR.) – CAMP IBIS – Camp Ibis was established at this site in the Spring of 1942 – one of eleven such camps built in the California–Arizona Desert to harden and train United States Troops for service on the battlefields of World War II. The 440th AAA AW Battalion was activated per General Order No. 1 at Camp Haan, CA on 1 July 1942. It trained at Camp M.A.A.R. (Irwin), Camps Young, Iron Mountain, Ibis, and then Camps Pickett, VA and Steward, GA. The battalion shipped out to England in December 1943 and landed in Normandy on D-3. The unit earned 5 Battle Stars and 2 Foreign Awards while serving with the 1st, 3rd, 7th, and 9th U.S. Armies, the 1st French Army and the 2nd British Army, 7 different corps and 5 different divisions. The 440th AAA AW BN was deactivated in December 1944.[15]

See also edit

References edit

Notes edit

  1. ^ "deserttrainingcenter.com Camp Iron Mountain". from the original on 31 January 2018. Retrieved 31 August 2019.
  2. ^ "US Army, Military Training Lands Historic Context: Training" (PDF). (PDF) from the original on 3 September 2019. Retrieved 3 September 2019.
  3. ^ Radio message Headquarters, War Department, Washington, D.C.
  4. ^ War Department Memo W210-27-43, 18 October 1943
  5. ^ War Department Circular 207, 20 June 1944
  6. ^ U.S. Geological Survey Geographic Names Information System: Camp Granite (historical)
  7. ^ "US Amry Camp Goffs Army Field". from the original on 19 November 2019. Retrieved 3 September 2019.
  8. ^ "US Army, Mohave Maneuver Area C". from the original on 20 March 2019. Retrieved 3 September 2019.
  9. ^ "californiahistoricallandmarks.com 985 Camp Pilot Knob Imperial". from the original on 15 August 2019. Retrieved 30 August 2019.
  10. ^ "californiahistoricallandmarks.com 985.1 Camp Young – Riverside". from the original on 30 August 2019. Retrieved 30 August 2019.
  11. ^ "californiahistoricallandmarks.com 985.2 Camp Granite – Riverside". from the original on 30 August 2019. Retrieved 30 August 2019.
  12. ^ "californiahistoricallandmarks.com 985.3 Camp Coxcomb – Riverside". from the original on 30 August 2019. Retrieved 30 August 2019.
  13. ^ "californiahistoricallandmarks.com 985.4 Iron Mountain". from the original on 30 August 2019. Retrieved 30 August 2019.
  14. ^ "californiahistoricallandmarks.com 985.5 Camp Clipper – San Bernadino [sic]". from the original on 30 August 2019. Retrieved 30 August 2019.
  15. ^ "californiahistoricallandmarks.com 985.6 Camp Camp Ibis – San Bernadino [sic]". from the original on 30 August 2019. Retrieved 30 August 2019.

Bibliography edit

  • Henley, David C. (1992). The Land That God Forgot: The Saga of Gen. George Patton's Desert Training Camp (revised ed.). Fallon, NV: Western Military History Association. p. 54. OCLC 76951993.
  • Lynch, John S. (1982). Patton's Desert Training Center. Ft. Meyer, VA: Council on America's Military Past. p. 56. OCLC 10132301.
  • Meller, Sidney L.; Army Ground Forces, Washington, DC, Historical Section (1946). History of the Army Ground Forces. Study Number 15. The Desert Training Center and C-AMA, (California–Arizona Maneuver Area). Ft. Belvoir, MD: Defense Technical Information Center. p. 132. OCLC 227994530.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  • The Army Almanac: A Book of Facts Concerning the Army of the United States, U.S. Government Printing Office, 1950 reproduced at CMH 21 March 2021 at the Wayback Machine.
  • USACE FUDS ASR's (U.S. Army Corps of Engineers – formerly used defense sites – Archive Search Report)
  • Bischoff, Matt C. (2000). The Desert Training Center/ California–Arizona Maneuver Area, 1942–1944: Historical and Archaeological Contexts (Technical). Statistical Research, Inc. ISBN 978-1879442757. OCLC 45131829.
  • Bischoff, Matt C. (2006). The Desert Training Center/California–Arizona Maneuver Area, 1942–1944: Volume 2: Historical and Archaeological Contexts for the Arizona Desert. Statistical Research, Inc. ISBN 978-1879442955. OCLC 599896923.

External links edit

  • Historic California Posts California/Arizona Maneuver Area (Desert Training Center)
  • Sands Of War Documentary video

December 15, 2023
desert, training, center, also, known, california, arizona, maneuver, area, cama, world, training, facility, established, mojave, desert, sonoran, desert, largely, southern, california, western, arizona, 1942, part, united, states, armysouthern, california, we. The Desert Training Center DTC also known as California Arizona Maneuver Area CAMA was a World War II training facility established in the Mojave Desert and Sonoran Desert largely in Southern California and Western Arizona in 1942 Desert Training CenterPart of United States ArmySouthern California Western ArizonaMap of Desert Training CenterCoordinates33 40 N 115 43 W 33 667 N 115 717 W 33 667 115 717TypeArmy Training AreaSite historyBuilt1942In use1942 1944Garrison informationPastcommandersMajor General George S Patton Jr April August 1942 Desert Training Center map US Army 1943Its mission was to train United States Army and Army Air Forces units and personnel to live and fight in the desert to test and develop suitable equipment and to develop tactical doctrines techniques and training methods It was a key training facility for units engaged in combat during the 1942 1943 North African campaign It stretched from the outskirts of Pomona California eastward to within 50 miles of Phoenix Arizona southward to the suburbs of Yuma Arizona and northward into the southern tip of Nevada Contents 1 History 1 1 Lineage 2 Facilities 2 1 Army Divisional Camps 2 2 Army Depots 2 3 Army Airfields 2 4 Hospitals 3 Mohave Maneuver Area C 4 Present day sites 5 California Historical Landmark 6 See also 7 References 7 1 Notes 7 2 Bibliography 8 External linksHistory edit nbsp Catholic Chapel at Camp Iron Mountain WW2 era Camp Iron Mountain is the best preserved divisional camp today Now preserved in Mojave Trails National Monument This simulated theater of operation was the largest military training ground in the history of military maneuvers A site near Shavers Summit now known as Chiriaco Summit between Indio and Desert Center was selected as the headquarters of the DTC The site called Camp Young was the world s largest army post Major General George S Patton Jr came to Camp Young as the first commanding general of the DTC As a native of southern California Patton knew the area well from his youth and from having participated in army maneuvers in the Mojave Desert in the 1930s His first orders were to select other areas within the desert that would be suitable for the large scale maneuvers necessary to prepare American soldiers for combat against the German Afrika Korps in the North African desert Patton and his advanced team designated various locations within the area where tent camps would be built The camps were situated so that each unit could train individually without interfering with the other Airfields hospitals supply depots and sites for other support services were selected as was a corps maneuvering area The plan was that each division and or major unit would train in its own area and near the end of its training period would participate in a corps two divisions or more exercise in the corps maneuvering area at Palen Pass Upon completion of the corps exercise the trained units would leave the DTC and new units would arrive to begin their training and the process repeated By March 1943 the North African campaign was in its final stages and the primary mission of the DTC had changed By the middle of 1943 the troops who originally came for desert training maneuvers were now deployed worldwide Therefore to reflect that change in mission the name of the center was changed to the California Arizona Maneuver Area C AMA or CAMA The CAMA was to serve as a theater of operations to train combat troops service units and staff under conditions similar to those which might be encountered overseas The CAMA was enlarged to include both a communications zone and combat zone approximately 350 miles wide and 250 miles long 1 2 Due to a severe deficit of service units beginning in the winter of 1943 it was decided that maneuvers in CAMA would cease as of 15 April 1944 with internal operations continuing until 1 May after which the center would be officially discontinued Lineage edit Activated 1 April 1942 3 Redesignated California Arizona Maneuver Area 20 October 1943 4 Closed 1 July 1944 5 Facilities edit nbsp Camp Ibis 607th Tank Destroyer Battalion circa 1942 nbsp Training at Camp Iron Mountain 1942Army Divisional Camps edit Camp Bouse secret camp Camp Clipper and Camp Essex Camp Coxcomb Camp Granite 6 Camp Hyder Camp Horn Camp Ibis Camp Iron Mountain Camp Laguna Camp Pilot Knob Camp Young Desert Training Center HeadquartersArmy Depots edit Camp Freda Quartermaster Depot Camp Desert Center Camp Goffs Depot and Infantry training Pomona Ordnance Depot San Bernardino Engineer DepotArmy Airfields edit nbsp Camp Goffs Army Field Train station 1943 nbsp Camp Goffs Army Field 1943 nbsp Desert Training Center California Arizona Maneuver Area former Camp Goffs Mojave DesertMajor airfields Blythe Army Air Base Desert Center Army Airfield Thermal Army Airfield Rice Army Airfield Shavers Summit Army Airfield now Chiriaco Summit Airport Minor airfields Camp Coxcomb Army Field Freda CA abandoned 33 55 12 N 115 14 24 W 33 92000 N 115 24000 W 33 92000 115 24000 Dateland Air Force Auxiliary Field abandoned Camp Essex Army Field Essex CA abandoned 34 46 19 N 115 13 15 W 34 77194 N 115 22083 W 34 77194 115 22083 Camp Goffs Army Field Goffs CA abandoned 34 56 12 N 115 04 04 W 34 93667 N 115 06778 W 34 93667 115 06778 7 Camp Ibis Army Field Ibis CA abandoned 34 58 12 N 114 50 23 W 34 97000 N 114 83972 W 34 97000 114 83972 Camp Iron Mountain Army Field 15 miles west of Rice CA 34 05 58 N 115 06 29 W 34 09944 N 115 10806 W 34 09944 115 10806 Laguna Army Airfield in use at Yuma Proving Ground 32 51 36 N 114 23 48 W 32 86000 N 114 39667 W 32 86000 114 39667 Camp Horn Army Airfield abandonedHospitals edit Banning General Hospital Banning CA Camp Freda Hospital Camp Desert Center Hospital Camp Goffs Hospital Torney General Hospital in Palm Springs Needles Station Hospital Cherry Valley Hospital in BeaumontMohave Maneuver Area C edit nbsp Desert Training Center Mohave Maneuver Area C nbsp Former Desert Training Center Mohave Maneuver Area C River crossing during Exercise Desert Strike in 1964In May 1964 part of the former Desert Training Center was reacquired for the purpose of Exercise Desert Strike The former Mohave Maneuver Area C was included in this area and used as part of the training ground for the two week exercise The exercise had large maneuvers and some river crossing training Mohave Maneuver Area C was 781 452 acres located in Mohave County Arizona 8 Present day sites editMost of the sites can be visited but some are difficult to reach In most cases the only things that remain at the camp sites are streets sidewalks building foundations patterns of hand laid rocks for various purposes and trash dumps Monuments have been erected at some of the camp sites and there are areas within CAMA that are fenced off with danger signs warning of unexploded ordnance The General George S Patton Memorial Museum is located near the former entrance of Camp Young California Historical Landmark editCalifornia Historical Landmarks Marker at Desert Training Center sites reads Camp Pilot Knob Imperial NO 985 DESERT TRAINING CENTER CALIFORNIA ARIZONA MANEUVER AREA ESTABLISHED BY MAJOR GENERAL GEORGE S PATTON JR CAMP PILOT KNOB Camp Pilot Knob was a unit of the Desert Training Center established by General George S Patton Jr to prepare American troops for battle during World War II It was the largest military training ground ever to exist At the peak of activity here at Pilot Knob June December 1943 the 85th Infantry Division and the 36th and 44th Reconnaissance Squadrons of the 11th Mechanized Cavalry trained here for roles in the liberation of Europe 1944 45 9 Camp Young Riverside NO 985 DESERT TRAINING CENTER CALIFORNIA ARIZONA MANEUVER AREA ESTABLISHED BY MAJOR GENERAL GEORGE S PATTON JR CAMP YOUNG The D T C was established by Major General George S Patton Jr in response to a need to train American combat troops for battle in North Africa during World War II The camp which began operation in 1942 covered 18 000 square miles It was the largest military training ground ever to exist Over one million men were trained at the eleven sub camps seven in California 10 Camp Granite Riverside NO 985 DESERT TRAINING CENTER CALIFORNIA ARIZONA MANEUVER AREA ESTABLISHED BY MAJOR GENERAL GEORGE S PATTON JR CAMP GRANITE Camp Granite was established at this site in the Spring of 1942 It was one of twelve such camps built in the southwestern desert to harden and train United States troops for service on the battlefields of World War II The Desert Training Center was a simulated theater of operations that included portions of California Arizona and Nevada The other camps were Young Granite Iron Mountain Ibis Clipper Pilot Knob Laguna Horn Hyder Bouse and Rice A total of 13 infantry divisions and 7 armored divisions plus numerous smaller units were trained in this harsh environment The Training Center was in operation for almost 2 years and was closed early in 1944 when the last units were shipped overseas During the brief period of operation over one million American soldiers were trained for combat 11 Camp Coxcomb Riverside NO 985 DESERT TRAINING CENTER CALIFORNIA ARIZONA MANEUVER AREA ESTABLISHED BY MAJOR GENERAL GEORGE S PATTON JR CAMP COXCOMB Camp Coxcomb was established at this site in the Spring of 1942 It was one of twelve such camps built in the southwestern desert to harden and train United States troops for service on the battlefields of World War II The Desert Training Center was a simulated theater of operations that included portions of California Arizona and Nevada The other camps were Young Granite Iron Mountain Ibis Clipper Pilot Knob Laguna Horn Hyder Bouse and Rice A total of 13 infantry divisions and 7 armored divisions plus numerous smaller units were trained in this harsh environment The Training Center was in operation for almost 2 years and was closed early in 1944 when the last units were shipped overseas During the brief period of operation over one million American soldiers were trained for combat 12 Camp Iron Mountain San Bernardino NO 985 DESERT TRAINING CENTER CALIFORNIA ARIZONA MANEUVER AREA ESTABLISHED BY MAJOR GENERAL GEORGE S PATTON JR CAMP IRON MOUNTAIN Iron Mountain Divisional Camp was established at this site in the Spring of 1942 One of eleven such camps built in the California Arizona Desert to harden and train United States troops for service on the battlefields of World War II The first major unit trained here was the 3rd Armored Division followed by elements of the 4th 5th 6th and 7th Armored Divisions In all one million men trained in the desert before the Training Center was officially closed in May 1944 The most unique feature built at this camp is the huge relief map built into the desert floor It can still be seen 1985 13 Camp Clipper San Bernardino NO 985 DESERT TRAINING CENTER CALIFORNIA ARIZONA MANEUVER AREA ESTABLISHED BY MAJOR GENERAL GEORGE S PATTON JR CAMP CLIPPER Camp Clipper was established at a site that reached from Essex Road to this location in the Spring of 1942 It was one of twelve such camps built in the southwestern deserts to harden and train United States troops for service on the battlefields of World War II The Desert Training Center was a simulated theater of operations that included portions of California Arizona and Nevada The other camps were Young Coxcomb Iron Mountain Ibis Granite Pilot Knob Laguna Horn Ryder Bouse and Rice A total of 13 infantry divisions and 7 armored divisions plus numerous smaller units were trained in this harsh environment The Training Center was in operation for almost two years and was closed early in 1944 when the last units were shipped overseas During the brief period of operation over one million American soldiers were trained for combat The 33rd and 93rd Infantry Divisions were trained here 14 Camp Ibis San Bernardino NO 985 DESERT TRAINING CENTER CALIFORNIA ARIZONA MANEUVER AREA ESTABLISHED BY MAJOR GENERAL GEORGE S PATTON JR CAMP IBIS Camp Ibis was established at this site in the Spring of 1942 one of eleven such camps built in the California Arizona Desert to harden and train United States Troops for service on the battlefields of World War II The 440th AAA AW Battalion was activated per General Order No 1 at Camp Haan CA on 1 July 1942 It trained at Camp M A A R Irwin Camps Young Iron Mountain Ibis and then Camps Pickett VA and Steward GA The battalion shipped out to England in December 1943 and landed in Normandy on D 3 The unit earned 5 Battle Stars and 2 Foreign Awards while serving with the 1st 3rd 7th and 9th U S Armies the 1st French Army and the 2nd British Army 7 different corps and 5 different divisions The 440th AAA AW BN was deactivated in December 1944 15 See also edit nbsp World War II portalCalifornia during World War II American Theater of World War II Military history of California California Historical Landmarks in Riverside County California California Historical Landmarks in San Bernardino County California U S Army Air Force flight training Twentynine Palms US Naval Bases North AfricaReferences editNotes edit deserttrainingcenter com Camp Iron Mountain Archived from the original on 31 January 2018 Retrieved 31 August 2019 US Army Military Training Lands Historic Context Training PDF Archived PDF from the original on 3 September 2019 Retrieved 3 September 2019 Radio message Headquarters War Department Washington D C War Department Memo W210 27 43 18 October 1943 War Department Circular 207 20 June 1944 U S Geological Survey Geographic Names Information System Camp Granite historical US Amry Camp Goffs Army Field Archived from the original on 19 November 2019 Retrieved 3 September 2019 US Army Mohave Maneuver Area C Archived from the original on 20 March 2019 Retrieved 3 September 2019 californiahistoricallandmarks com 985 Camp Pilot Knob Imperial Archived from the original on 15 August 2019 Retrieved 30 August 2019 californiahistoricallandmarks com 985 1 Camp Young Riverside Archived from the original on 30 August 2019 Retrieved 30 August 2019 californiahistoricallandmarks com 985 2 Camp Granite Riverside Archived from the original on 30 August 2019 Retrieved 30 August 2019 californiahistoricallandmarks com 985 3 Camp Coxcomb Riverside Archived from the original on 30 August 2019 Retrieved 30 August 2019 californiahistoricallandmarks com 985 4 Iron Mountain Archived from the original on 30 August 2019 Retrieved 30 August 2019 californiahistoricallandmarks com 985 5 Camp Clipper San Bernadino sic Archived from the original on 30 August 2019 Retrieved 30 August 2019 californiahistoricallandmarks com 985 6 Camp Camp Ibis San Bernadino sic Archived from the original on 30 August 2019 Retrieved 30 August 2019 Bibliography edit Henley David C 1992 The Land That God Forgot The Saga of Gen George Patton s Desert Training Camp revised ed Fallon NV Western Military History Association p 54 OCLC 76951993 Lynch John S 1982 Patton s Desert Training Center Ft Meyer VA Council on America s Military Past p 56 OCLC 10132301 Meller Sidney L Army Ground Forces Washington DC Historical Section 1946 History of the Army Ground Forces Study Number 15 The Desert Training Center and C AMA California Arizona Maneuver Area Ft Belvoir MD Defense Technical Information Center p 132 OCLC 227994530 a href Template Cite book html title Template Cite book cite book a CS1 maint multiple names authors list link The Army Almanac A Book of Facts Concerning the Army of the United States U S Government Printing Office 1950 reproduced at CMH Archived 21 March 2021 at the Wayback Machine USACE FUDS ASR s U S Army Corps of Engineers formerly used defense sites Archive Search Report Bischoff Matt C 2000 The Desert Training Center California Arizona Maneuver Area 1942 1944 Historical and Archaeological Contexts Technical Statistical Research Inc ISBN 978 1879442757 OCLC 45131829 Bischoff Matt C 2006 The Desert Training Center California Arizona Maneuver Area 1942 1944 Volume 2 Historical and Archaeological Contexts for the Arizona Desert Statistical Research Inc ISBN 978 1879442955 OCLC 599896923 External links editBureau of Land Management information brochure Desert Training Center Historic California Posts California Arizona Maneuver Area Desert Training Center Sands Of War Documentary video Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Desert Training Center amp oldid 1168467471, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,

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