Camp Desert Center facts for kids

Map of the Desert Training Center, showing Camp Desert Center

The 92nd Evacuation Hospital in New Guinea in 1944, after leaving Camp Desert Center

Camp Desert Center was a special training camp for the U.S. Army during World War II. It was part of a much larger area called the Desert Training Center in Riverside County, California. This huge training ground helped prepare soldiers for battles in hot, dry places.

The main base for the Desert Training Center was Camp Young. This is where famous General Patton and his 3rd Armored Division were based. Camp Desert Center itself was located in Desert Center, California, a small town in the Colorado Desert region of southern California. It's found between the cities of Indio and Blythe, right where Interstate 10 and State Route 177 meet. It's about halfway between Phoenix and Los Angeles. The camp was also close to Joshua Tree National Park and the Colorado River Aqueduct.

Unlike some other camps, Camp Desert Center didn't have entire army divisions stationed there. Instead, it was a very important place for supplies, repairs, and medical care. It had a special hospital run by the 92nd medical unit. The site of Camp Desert Center later became the small town of Desert Center, California. It is recognized as a California Historical Landmark (No. 985).

Camp Desert Center was built in April 1942. The entire Desert Training Center was created to get troops ready to fight the Germans in North Africa during World War II. When the camp was finished, it had many important buildings. These included shower buildings, restrooms, a hospital, a weather station, and wooden frames for tents. It also had a place to store ammunition, a supply store, and facilities for water storage and treatment. The 18th Ordnance Battalion, which handled weapons and supplies, operated from this camp. Camp Desert Center closed on December 16, 1944, and the army buildings were removed.

Caring for Soldiers: The 92nd Medical Unit

The 92nd Evacuation Hospital at Camp Desert Center was a large hospital with 300 beds. It was open from May 1943 to December 1943. This hospital had many medical doctors, nurses, and even surgery rooms. They treated soldiers for everything from dehydration (not enough water) to serious injuries needing emergency surgery.

Before coming to Camp Desert Center, the 92nd medical unit was at the Camp Freda Hospital. Unlike many other units that trained in the desert, the 92nd medical unit did not go to the North African campaign. Instead, after their desert training, they were sent to fight in the South Pacific. They saw action in the New Guinea campaign, the Battle of Luzon, and the Battle of Leyte. After the war ended, the 92nd unit was part of the occupation of Japan.

Air Support: Desert Center Army Air Field

Camp Desert Airfield in 2006, as seen by the USGS

The U.S. Army also built the Desert Center Army Air Field, sometimes called the Desert Center Airdrome, in 1942. It was located about 5 miles northeast of Camp Desert Center. This airfield had two runways, each 5,500 feet long.

The first group to use the airfield was the 74th Reconnaissance Group. Later, other units like the 377th Service Squadron and the 475th Base Headquarters used it. More than 40 buildings were built at the airfield to help support the training at the many desert camps. The airfield was used for reconnaissance (scouting) missions and to help the evacuation hospital by flying in supplies or flying out injured soldiers.

In 1943, the 475th Base Headquarters & Air Base Squadron was based here. Several types of planes were stationed at the Desert Center Army Air Field. These included the Curtiss O-52 Owl, Stinson L-1 Vigilant, Piper L-4, North American B-25 Mitchell, Bell P-39 Airacobra, and Curtiss P-40 Warhawk.

When Camp Desert Center closed in 1944, the airfield was given to the Fourth Air Force. They didn't use it much, only for occasional B-24 Liberator training flights from March Field. After its military use ended, the airfield was turned over to the Army Corps of Engineers. Later, it was sold for private use. Today, the Desert Center Airport (CN64) is a private airport.