General George S. Patton Memorial Museum facts for kids
Statue of Patton standing on tank treads, installed outside the General George S. Patton Memorial Museum
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| Established | 1988 |
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| Location | 62-510 Chiriaco Road Chiriaco Summit, California 33°39′42″N 115°43′20″W / 33.66167°N 115.72222°W |
| Type | Biographical museum |
| Camp Young | |
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US Army Camp Young in 1943
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| Location | General Patton Memorial Museum |
| Area | 18,000 square miles, 3,279.89 acres |
| Built | 1942 |
| Architect | US Army |
| Reference no. | 985.1 |
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The General George S. Patton Memorial Museum is a special place in Chiriaco Summit, California. It honors General George S. Patton, a famous leader from World War II. The museum is built right where the entrance to Camp Young used to be. This camp was a big part of the Desert Training Center.
Inside the museum, you can see many cool things. There's a huge collection of tanks that were used in World War II and the Korean War. You can also find items from General Patton's life and career. Many of these items show his time at the Desert Training Center. There are also displays about the Colorado River Aqueduct and local nature. Plus, you can watch a 26-minute video about Patton's military service. It also explains how the Desert Training Center was created.
Even though General Patton was at the Desert Training Center for less than four months, his work there helped train over one million soldiers. The museum is easy to find, located off Interstate 10. It's about 30 miles (48 km) east of Indio. It's also very close to the Chiriaco Summit Airport.
Contents
Camp Young: A World War II Training Ground
Camp Young was a very important place during World War II. It was the main headquarters for General Patton's 3rd Armored Division. Soldiers trained here for tank warfare. The camp was active during the war and closed in 1944.
General Patton was ordered in March 1942 to create a desert training center in California. The main goal was to prepare American troops to fight the Nazis in North Africa. The 3rd Armored Division and other units were stationed at Camp Young. Soldiers trained at Camp Young and its smaller sub-camps before going overseas.
Camp Young covered about 3,279 acres. It had many firing ranges for different weapons. These included mortars and small caliber firearms.
Air Support for Training
Camp Young also had air support from the Shavers Army Airfield. This airfield was built in April 1943. The United States Army Air Forces used it as a training base during World War II. Airplanes from this field helped with scouting missions. They also helped coordinate tanks and other armored vehicles from the sky. Each sub-camp had its own air support airfield.
After the war, the airfield was given to the local government. It is still used today as the Chiriaco Summit Airport (L77). It is located about one mile (1.85 km) northeast of Chiriaco Summit.
Camps Managed by Camp Young
Camp Young was the main headquarters. It managed many other camps, both in California and Arizona.
California Camps:
- Camp Coxcomb
- Camp Granite
- Camp Essex and Camp Clipper
- Camp Iron Mountain
- Camp Ibis
- Camp Pilot Knob
- Camp Young
California Hospitals and Supply Depots:
- Camp Freda – A place for supplies and a hospital
- Camp Desert Center – A place for supplies and a hospital
- Banning General Hospital – A hospital
- Torney General Hospital – A hospital
- Camp Goffs – A place for supplies and a hospital
- San Bernardino Engineer Depot – A place for supplies and a hospital
- Needles Station Hospital
- Cherry Valley Hospital
Arizona Camps:
- Camp Bouse (a secret camp during WW2)
- Camp Horn
- Camp Hyder
- Camp Laguna and the Yuma Test Branch – these later became the Yuma Proving Ground
- Some bombing and artillery ranges
Major Airfields:
- Blythe Army Air Base – still used as an airport
- Desert Center Army Airfield – still used as an airport
- Thermal Army Airfield – still used as an airport
- Rice Army Airfield – no longer in use
- Shavers Summit Army Airfield – now Chiriaco Summit Airport
Minor Airfields:
- Camp Coxcomb Army Field – no longer in use
- Dateland Air Force Auxiliary Field – no longer in use
- Camp Essex Army Field – no longer in use
- Camp Goffs Army Field – no longer in use
- Camp Horn Army Airfield – no longer in use
- Camp Ibis Army Field – no longer in use
- Camp Iron Mountain Army Field – still used as Iron Mountain Pumping Plant Airport (72CL)
- Laguna Army Airfield – still used at Yuma Proving Ground
California Historical Landmark
There is a special marker at Camp Young. It is a California Historical Landmarks Marker. It tells us about the Desert Training Center.
The marker says: 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., to train American soldiers for battles in North Africa during World War II. The camp started in 1942 and covered 18,000 square miles. It was the biggest military training area ever. Over one million men trained at its eleven sub-camps (seven in California).
Images for kids
- Patton Memorial Museum – Camp Young
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This plaque on the museum grounds tells about the Desert Training Center.
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A special vehicle used to tow tanks, seen outside the museum.
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An example of World War I trench art on display inside the museum.
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A map showing the California Desert Training Center.
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The headquarters of Camp Young in 1943.
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A photo of General George S. Patton.
See also
