Camp Pilot Knob facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Camp Pilot Knob |
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Map of Camp Pilot Knob in 1943
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| Location | Felicity, California |
| Area | 4,000 acres |
| Built | April 1943 |
| Architect | US Army |
| Reference no. | 985 |
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Camp Pilot Knob 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 tough desert conditions.
The main base for the Desert Training Center was Camp Young. This is where famous General Patton and his 3rd Armored Division were stationed. Camp Pilot Knob is recognized as a California Historical Landmark (number 985).
You can find Camp Pilot Knob near Felicity, California, in Imperial County, California. It's about two miles north of the U.S.-Mexico border, close to where Interstate 8 is today. The camp is also five miles northwest of Yuma, Arizona, and two miles west of the Colorado River. Soldiers and supplies arrived at the camp by train, using the Felicity train station nearby. The camp got its name from a small hill located south of the site.
History of the Camp
Camp Pilot Knob was built very quickly in April 1943. Its main purpose was to get American soldiers ready to fight in Europe against the Nazis during World War II. The desert environment was perfect for training troops to handle harsh conditions.
When the camp was finished, it had many important buildings. There were shower buildings, latrines (restrooms), and wooden frames for tents. It also had large water storage tanks and a special plant to treat water. North of the camp, soldiers practiced shooting at various fire ranges.
Camp Pilot Knob was only open for a short time, closing in June 1944. Many different groups of soldiers trained there.
- From June to August 1943, the 85th Infantry Division trained at the camp. After their training, they were sent to Italy to fight the Nazis.
- The 6th Infantry Division also trained at Camp Pilot Knob. They later went to fight in the New Guinea campaign and the Battle of Luzon in the Pacific.
- Two special air squadrons, the 36th Reconnaissance Squadron and the 44th Reconnaissance Squadron, also trained here. These squadrons were important for taking pictures and gathering information.
- To help the soldiers, the 54th Evacuation Hospital was also set up at the camp. This hospital provided medical care and support for the troops.
Historical Marker
A special marker (number 985) stands at the Camp Pilot Knob site. It tells us about the camp's history:
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 for roles in the liberation of Europe, 1944-45.
This marker was put up in 1990 by the State Department of Parks and Recreation. They worked with the Bureau of Land Management and a local historical group called John P. Squibob Chapter No. 1853, E Clampus Vitus.
