Historic California
Posts, Camps, Stations and Airfields
Camp Danby
Camp Danby is located approximately 10
miles southwest of Essex, in San Bernardino County, California.
It is 1.7 miles, heading southeast, down Danby Rd., off of National
Trails Highway.
On September 17, 1943, the Department of Interior issued a use
permit, in lieu of a formal directive, that transferred 316.79
acres to the War Department. The War Department also leased 0.22
acres by Lease No. W04-193-ENG-2199 from the Atchison, Topeka
and Santa Fe Railway Company.
This included 1253 feet of railroad track that was located over
the leased area and on public main. Camp Danby was used as a
campsite for the Army during General Patton's desert training
program. A campsite and railway siding was constructed on site
but they are no longer located there.
Camp Danby was declared surplus on March 16, 1944. The Corps
of Engineers was to take custody by April 2, 1944. A surplus
directive was then issued on August 15, 1944. The land was transferred
from the War Department to the Department of Interior, by letter,
on February 7, 1945. The Department of Interior revoked the use
permit, by letter to the War Department, on April 11, 1945. The
lease for the 0.22 acres, Lease No. W04-193-ENG-2199, from the
Atchison, Topeka, and Santa Fe Railway Company was cancelled
on June 3, 1944. The structures that were installed by the Army
during the time of occupation are no longer at the site. Since
use by the Army, a mining company has apparently been at the
site.
Army
Units Assigned to Camp Danby
Data Source
Date(s)
Unit(s)
Army
of the United States Station List
1
June 1943
Company A (less two platoons).694th
Quartermaster Laundry Battalion (AGF)
AAF - Army Air Forces
units AGF - Army Ground Forces ASF - Army Service Forces units
WDC - Western Defense Command
Source: Los Angeles District,
US Army Corps of Engineers