Camp Callan facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Camp Callan |
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| La Jolla, California, U.S. | |
 Camp Callan
Camp Callan
Camp Callan
Camp Callan
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| Coordinates | 32°52′57″N 117°14′45″W / 32.88250°N 117.24583°W |
| Type | anti-aircraft artillery and coastal artillery replacement training center |
| Site information | |
| Controlled by | United States Army |
| Site history | |
| Built | November 1940 |
| In use | January 15, 1941 – November 1, 1945 |
Camp Callan was a special training center for the United States Army during World War II. It was built to train soldiers to use anti-aircraft and coastal artillery guns. These were big guns used to shoot down enemy planes or protect the coast from ships. The camp was located in La Jolla, California, near San Diego. It opened in 1941 and closed shortly after the war ended in 1945. Today, very little of the original camp remains.
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Where was Camp Callan located?
Camp Callan was about 15 miles north of downtown San Diego, in an area called La Jolla. It was on a flat area of land known as the Torrey Pines Mesa, very close to the Pacific Ocean. The camp covered a large rectangular area, about 3 miles long and half a mile wide.
What is there now?
Today, the land where Camp Callan once stood is used for many different things.
- The northern part is now the Torrey Pines Golf Course, which opened in 1957. It's also home to the Torrey Pines State Natural Reserve, a beautiful natural park.
- The southeastern part is now part of the University of California, San Diego (UCSD) campus.
- Other parts of the southern area have homes, businesses, the Scripps Green Hospital, and research centers like the Salk Institute for Biological Studies.
How did Camp Callan start?
Camp Callan was created because of World War II. The U.S. military needed a place to train many new soldiers quickly.
How was the land acquired?
In October 1940, the city of San Diego helped the military get the land for the camp. They leased over 700 acres to the military for just one dollar a year! Other private landowners also leased their land. In total, the government got permission to use over 1,200 acres for the new base.
When did the camp open?
The United States Department of War announced plans for the training center in November 1940. Its main goal was to teach soldiers how to use long-range weapons. This was important in case the Imperial Japanese Navy tried to attack the West Coast of the United States. The camp was named "Camp Callan" to honor Major General Robert Emmet Callan, a famous artillery officer.
Construction of the camp began in November 1940. The camp officially opened with a flag-raising ceremony on January 15, 1941. About 20 officers and 120 enlisted men were there. Brigadier General Francis P. Hardaway was the camp's first commander. He spoke about how important the camp would be for America's defense.
What kind of training happened first?
The first large guns arrived at the camp on February 24, 1941. Some of these were 155mm guns from World War I. Around 5,000 trainees arrived at the camp by train between late February and late March. They came from military bases across the country.
The first big military parade was held on April 2, 1941. Six thousand soldiers marched in front of Major General Joseph A. Green, the Chief of Coastal Artillery. He was very impressed with their quick progress. A 100-piece Marine Corps band played music for the ceremony.
What happened during the middle years of Camp Callan?
A big change happened at Camp Callan in March 1942. The military saw how much damage German planes (the Luftwaffe) had done to the United Kingdom during the Battle of Britain. Because of this, they decided to focus all training on anti-aircraft weapons. They stopped training on coastal artillery. This change made the camp very busy for the next two years. About 15,000 trainees went through their 13-week training cycle at a time.
What did soldiers learn to do?
Soldiers at Camp Callan learned to use many different types of guns. These included 155mm, 90mm, 75mm, and 40mm anti-aircraft guns. They also learned how to use the special equipment that helped aim and fire these guns. The camp had several firing ranges, including:
- A 1,000-inch range
- A 200-yard rifle range
- A pistol range
- An automatic weapons range
- A 3-inch anti-aircraft gun range
What facilities were at the camp?
Besides the gun positions and firing ranges, many other buildings were built at the base. These included:
- Barracks (where soldiers lived)
- A hospital with 910 beds
- Offices
- Five Post Exchanges (stores for soldiers)
- Three theaters
- Five chapels
- Support buildings and storage buildings
- A landfill
In total, the developed part of the base had over 297 buildings across 23 blocks. The camp also had its own weekly newspaper, The Range Finder, and an annual yearbook called The Callander. Eventually, the camp even got its own 40-piece military band.
How did Camp Callan close?
In June 1944, the training focus at Camp Callan changed again. The anti-aircraft training program moved to Fort Bliss, Texas. Camp Callan then started preparing soldiers for huge overseas amphibious assaults. These were attacks where soldiers landed from the sea.
However, this new training didn't last long. By May 8, 1945, the war was over in Europe (called Victory Day). By August 15, Japan had surrendered, ending the war completely. Because the war was over, this special training was no longer needed. On November 1, 1945, Camp Callan was officially closed.
What happened to the land and buildings?
After the camp closed, the land was returned to its owners over the next year. The city of San Diego faced a shortage of building materials after the war. Many veterans wanted to stay in San Diego, so more homes were needed.
The city council worked with the War Department to buy most of the camp's buildings and facilities. There were about 500 buildings. The city bought them for $200,000. They then resold these materials to veterans and other citizens at fair prices. Thousands of homes, several churches, and many utilities were built using materials from Camp Callan. The city made a profit of $250,000 from these sales. Part of this money helped build the Veteran's War Memorial Building in Balboa Park.
Today, almost all signs of the camp's buildings are gone. A few old foundations can still be found north of the UCSD campus. The old main entrance to the base is now near The Lodge Torrey Pines.
