Santa Monica Army Air Forces Redistribution Center facts for kids

Santa Monica Army Air Forces Redistribution Center buildings, including the Del Mar Beach Club, Edgewater Beach Club, and The Grand Hotel.

The Hotel Casa del Mar in Santa Monica.

The Santa Monica Army Air Forces Redistribution Center was a special place in Santa Monica, California. It was also known as Redistribution Station No.3. This center was a group of buildings and hotels used to house soldiers during and after World War II. The United States Army Air Forces chose Santa Monica because the Douglas Aircraft Company, a big airplane maker, had a large factory nearby at Santa Monica Airport (also called Clover Field).

The center opened in November 1943. It used buildings and land that the Army rented, mostly along what is now Santa Monica State Beach. Airmen returning from the war in Europe and the Pacific war could rest and relax here before their next job. At its busiest, the center covered 65 acres and had 1,200 staff members. Many of the staff were from the Women's Army Corps. The American Red Cross in Santa Monica helped organize fun events for the soldiers.

When the war ended, the center became a place to help soldiers go back home. Over 35,000 airmen passed through the center. After that, it helped prisoners of war return to their homes. The center closed on November 15, 1945. The last rented building was returned in January 1947. Most of these buildings were in an area called Ocean Park, California on Ocean Avenue. The Army Air Force had other similar centers in places like Atlantic City, Miami, and San Antonio.

What Buildings Were Used?

Many different buildings and areas in Santa Monica were part of the Redistribution Center. Here are some of them:

• The Elk's Club at 1811 Ocean Avenue.
• The Grand Hotel at 1725 Ocean Avenue.
• The Hotel Casa del Mar at 1910 Ocean Avenue.
• The Fairmont-Miramar Hotel at 1123 Ocean Avenue, used for married soldiers.
• The Edgewater Beach Club at 1815 Ocean Avenue.
• The Hotel Shangri-La at 1301 Ocean Avenue.
• The Ocean Palms Apartments at 1215 Ocean Avenue.
• Apartment housing at 24th Street and Pico Boulevard.
• Apartment housing at 25th and Pearl Streets.
• A small hospital.
• Two office buildings at 27th Street and Dewey Street.
• A warehouse at 1231 Lincoln Boulevard.
• A warehouse at 1405 11th Street.
• A warehouse at 2435 Main Street.
• An oil station at 1705 Lincoln Boulevard.
• Some vacant lots were turned into:
  • A skeet range (for shooting practice).
  • An athletic field.
  • A park.
  • Parking lots.
  • An Army Beach at 1815 Ocean Avenue.
• Part of the Santa Monica Pier was also used in 1945.