Historic California Posts, Camps, Stations and Airfields
Camp Haan
(Camp Haan Quartermaster Depot, Camp Haan Prisoner of War Camp)
 
 

Corps of Engineers History 1
 
Developed in November 1940 as a Coast Artillery Antiaircraft Replacement Training Center on property adjacent to March Army Air Field, Camp Haan was opened in January 1941.The military reservation, a trapezoidal area about four miles long and three miles wide, comprised some 8,058 acres, and was named in honor of Major General William George Haan, Coast Artillery Corps, who had a very distinguished Army career during World War I and was awarded a number of American and foreign government decorations.
 
At first it was mostly a tent camp, but permanent wooden barracks and other buildings were added. By October of 1941, the Camp had 353 buildings, 2,459 floor tents, 6 exchanges, 5 chapels, a hospital, 18 miles of sewers, and 28 miles of streets. By November 1941 most of the men who trained here had been assigned to coastal defenses in the Los Angeles and San Francisco Bay area. When the attack came on Pearl Harbor a month later, and fears of an invasion of the U.S. west coast were at their height, it would have been these men who would have been our first line of defense had it happened.
 
In March 1942 Camp Haan was reorganized as an Army Service Depot and in late 1942 a prisoner of war camp was built here for 1,200 Italian Prisoners of War. The PWs worked at Camp Haan and in the surrounding citrus orchards. In April 1945, German POWs arrived at Haan to replace the Italians. Later in the war Camp Haan had an 800-bed debarkation hospital which received wounded coming in from the Pacific theaters of operation. The Southwest Branch, U.S. Disciplinary Barracks, was also authorized for activation at this post.
 
At its peak, Camp Haan had a population of 80,000 people. After the war the camp became a separation center and on August 31, 1946 was closed. Many of the wooden buildings were sold and moved to other locations and the land was divided. Parcels went to March Field and to create the Riverside National Cemetery on Van Buren Boulevard.

Land was also used for a housing development, Arnold Heights, named after General of the Army, "Hap" Arnold. Some of the land remains unused and a number of building foundations, streets and sidewalks can be seen from State Route 215.
 
Corps of Engineers of History 2
 
Camp Haan was developed in November 1940 as a Coast artillery anti-aircraft training center and opened in January 1941. The camp was adjacent to March Field. Camp Haan was originally built to handle 15,000 soldiers but by October 1941, groups of 80,000 soldiers were obtaining basic training at the camp. At that point in time the camp had over 350 buildings, 2,450 floor tents, 6 post exchanges, 5 chapels, a hospital, 18 miles of sewers, and 28 miles of streets.

The 78th , 65th, 215th , 216th , and 217th Coast Artillery Brigades were trained at Camp Haan. After training, the brigades were transferred to Los Angeles, San Francisco, the Aleutian Islands and other Pacific areas. Anti-aircraft training was conducted on land transferred to the Department of the Air Force for use as March Air Force Base (AFB) .

In early 1942 the camp was designated as a prisoner of war camp in addition to its anti-aircraft training mission. On 20 September 1945, Camp Haan was designated as a separation point for soldiers on completion of their tour of duty with the U.S. Army.

Camp Haan was declared surplus on 20 January 1947. By 1949, 5,610 acres of the site were either reassigned or transferred to March AFB. U.S. Army terminated leases and permits comprising the remainder of the Camp Haan site which totaled 2,212.38 acres. Approximately 1,325 acres of this terminated acreage supports a variety of residential uses, ranging from large lot to standard subdivision development. The remaining terminated acreage is devoted to orange groves, other agricultural uses, and open fields.
 
 
Camp Haan
by Justin Ruhge
 
Camp Haan was an Army antiaircraft artillery camp. The Camp was named in honor of Major General William George Haan, born October 4, 1863 at Crownpoint, Indiana. He graduated from West Point Army Military Academy in 1889. He led American Forces in the Spanish American War in the Philippines and World War I in Europe where he received many decorations. He died at Washington D.C. in 1929.

The Camp was located on 1,500 acres in the Perris Valley and stretched for three miles along Highway 395 (15-E) opposite what was then called March Field. The site encompassed part of the ill-fated Alessandro Tract of the late 1880s. Construction of the Camp began in October 1940. Camp Haan Post Office, a classified branch of the Riverside Post Office, was in existence from January 15, 1941 to June 15, 1947. In 1945, Camp Haan was made part of March Air Force Base and for a time was known as West March. Then the Camp buildings were sold and dismantled and a portion of the land was used for Arnold Heights, a housing development for Air Force families that was built in 1945. Part of the site is now Riverside National Cemetery.
 
Camp Haan Quartermaster Depot (Classification)
 
A subpost of Mira Loma Quartermaster Depot (later Mira Loma Air Force Station) in San Bernardino, this activity is recorded in the List of Military Posts Camps and Stations in the Continental United States as of 6 November 1945.
 
Prisoner of War Camp
 
 
 
Army Units Assigned to Camp Haan
 

 Data Source

Date(s)

 Unit(s)
  7 December 1941 
  • 37th Coast Artillery Brigade (Anti-Aircraft)
    • Headquarters and Headquarters Battery
    • 65th Coast Artillery Regiment (Anti-Aircraft)
    • 78th Coast Artillery Regiment (Anti-Aircraft)
    • 205th Coast Artillery Regiment (Anti-Aircraft)
  • 101st Coastal Artillery Brigade (Anti-Aircraft)
    • Headquarters and Headquarters Battery
    • 206th Coast Artillery Regiment (Anti-Aircraft)
    • 216th Coast Artillery Regiment (Anti-Aircraft)
    • 217th Coast Artillery Regiment (Anti-Aircraft)
  • 121st Coast Artillery Battalion (Anti-Aircraft)
  • 7th Ordnance Company (Medium Maintenace)
  • 18th Ordnance Company (Medium Maintenance)
  • Corps Area Support Unit 1967 (Station Complement)
 Army of the United States Station List  1 June 1943
Army Ground Forces:
  • Band (Anti-Aircraft Training Center No. 1)
  • Band (Anti-Aircraft Training Center No. 2)
  • Band (507th Coast Artillery Regiment
  • Antiaircraft Training Center
    • Headquarters and Headquarters Battery
  • Post Photogrphic Laboratory
  • 6th Antiaircraft Artillery Group
    • Headquarters and Headquarters Battery
  • 7th Antiaircraft Artillery Group
    • Headquarters and Headquarters Battery
  • 15th Antiaircraft Artillery Group
    • Headquarters and Headquarters Battery
  • 25th Antiaircraft Artillery Group
    • Headquarters and Headquarters Battery
  • 35th Antiaircraft Artillery Group
    • Headquarters and Headquarters Battery
  • 36th Antiaircraft Artillery Group
    • Headquarters and Headquarters Battery
  • 37th Antiaircraft Artillery Group
    • Headquarters and Headquarters Battery
  • 39th Antiaircraft Artillery Group
    • Headquarters and Headquarters Battery
  • 40th Antiaircraft Artillery Group
    • Headquarters and Headquarters Battery
  • 41st Antiaircraft Artillery Group
    • Headquarters and Headquarters Battery
  • 42nd Antiaircraft Artillery Group
    • Headquarters and Headquarters Battery
  • 54th Antiaircraft Artillery Brigade
    • Headquarters and Headquarters Battery
  • 57th Antiaircraft Artillery Brigade
    • Headquarters and Headquarters Battery
  • 59th Antiaircraft Artillery Brigade
    • Headquarters and Headquarters Battery
  • 109th Antiaircraft Artillery Group
    • Headquarters and Headquarters Battery
    • 161st Coast Artillery Battalion (Anti-Aircraft)
    • 195th Antiaircraft Artillery Automatic Weapons Battalion
    • 222nd Antiaircraft Artillery Seachlight Battalion (Semi-Mobile)
  • 113th Antiaircraft Artillery Group
    • Headquarters and Headquarters Battery
    • 165st Coast Artillery Battalion (Anti-Aircraft)
    • 199th Antiaircraft Artillery Automatic Weapons Battalion
    • 226th Antiaircraft Artillery Seachlight Battalion (Semi-Mobile)
  • 118th Coast Artillery Battalion (Anti-Aircraft)(Gun)(Semi-Mobile)(Separate)
  • 119th Coast Artillery Battalion (Anti-Aircraft)(Gun)(Semi-Mobile)(Separate)
  • 120th Coast Artillery Battalion (Anti-Aircraft)(Gun)(Semi-Mobile)(Separate)
  • 124th Coast Artillery Battalion (Anti-Aircraft)(Gun)(Mobile)(Separate)
  • 125th Coast Artillery Battalion (Anti-Aircraft)(Gun)(Mobile)(Separate)
  • 126th Coast Artillery Battalion (Anti-Aircraft)(Gun)(Mobile)(Separate)
  • 127th Coast Artillery Battalion (Anti-Aircraft)(Gun)(Mobile)(Separate)
  • 143rd Antiaircraft Artillery Gun Battalion (Mobile) *
  • 144th Antiaircraft Artillery Gun Battalion (Mobile) *
  • 267th Ordnance Maintenance Company, Antiaircraft
  • 282nd Ordnance Maintenance Company, Antiaircraft
  • 283rd Ordnance Maintenance Company, Antiaircraft
  • 307th Ordnance Maintenance Company, Antiaircraft *
  • 311th Ordnance Battalion
    • Heaqquarters and Headquarters Detachment
  • 326th Antiaircraft Artillery Searchlight Battalion (Semi-Mobile)
  • 330th Antiaircraft Artillery Searchlight Battalion (Semi-Mobile) *
  • 352nd Ordnance Maintenance Company, Antiaircraft *
  • 353rd Ordnance Maintenance Company, Antiaircraft *
  • 390th Antiaircraft Artillery Automatic Weapons Battalion (Self Propelled)
  • 407th Coast Artillery Battalion (Anti-Aircraft)(Gun)(Semi-Mobile)(Separate)
  • 413th Coast Artillery Battalion (Anti-Aircraft)(Gun)(Mobile)(Separate)
  • 463rd Antiaircraft Artillery Automatic Weapons Battalion (Mobile)
  • 468th Antiaircraft Artillery Automatic Weapons Battalion (Mobile)
  • 487th Antiaircraft Artillery Automatic Weapons Battalion (Semi-Mobile)
  • 507th Coast Artillery Regiment (Anti-Aircraft)(Mobile) (WDC)
  • 535th Antiaircraft Artillery Automatic Weapons Battalion (Mobile)
  • 546th Antiaircraft Artillery Automatic Weapons Battalion (Mobile)
  • 547th Antiaircraft Artillery Automatic Weapons Battalion (Mobile)
  • 548th Antiaircraft Artillery Automatic Weapons Battalion (Mobile)
  • 557th Antiaircraft Artillery Automatic Weapons Battalion (Mobile)
  • 568th Antiaircraft Artillery Automatic Weapons Battalion (Mobile)
  • 569th Antiaircraft Artillery Automatic Weapons Battalion (Mobile)
  • 778th Antiaircraft Artillery Automatic Weapons Battalion (Self-Propelled)
  • 779th Antiaircraft Artillery Automatic Weapons Battalion (Semi-Mobile)
  • 780th Antiaircraft Artillery Automatic Weapons Battalion (Semi-Mobile)
  • 781st Antiaircraft Artillery Automatic Weapons Battalion (Semi-Mobile)
  • 782nd Antiaircraft Artillery Automatic Weapons Battalion (Semi-Mobile)
  • 783rd Antiaircraft Artillery Automatic Weapons Battalion (Semi-Mobile)
  • 797th Antiaircraft Artillery Automatic Weapons Battalion (Semi-Mobile)
  • 798th Antiaircraft Artillery Automatic Weapons Battalion (Semi-Mobile)
  • 799th Antiaircraft Artillery Automatic Weapons Battalion (Semi-Mobile)
  • 800th Antiaircraft Artillery Automatic Weapons Battalion (Semi-Mobile)
  • 815th Antiaircraft Artillery Automatic Weapons Battalion (Semi-Mobile)
  • 816th Antiaircraft Artillery Automatic Weapons Battalion (Semi-Mobile)
  • 817th Antiaircraft Artillery Automatic Weapons Battalion (Semi-Mobile)
  • 818th Antiaircraft Artillery Automatic Weapons Battalion (Semi-Mobile)
  • 828nd Antiaircraft Artillery Automatic Weapons Battalion (Semi-Mobile)
  • 823rd Antiaircraft Artillery Automatic Weapons Battalion (Semi-Mobile)
  • 824th Antiaircraft Artillery Automatic Weapons Battalion (Semi-Mobile)
  • 832nd Antiaircraft Artillery Automatic Weapons Battalion (Semi-Mobile)
  • 833rd Antiaircraft Artillery Automatic Weapons Battalion (Semi-Mobile)
  • 834th Antiaircraft Artillery Automatic Weapons Battalion (Semi-Mobile)
  • 835th Antiaircraft Artillery Automatic Weapons Battalion (Semi-Mobile)
Army Service Forces:
  • 1929th Service Command Unit (Branch School for Bakers and Cooks)
  • 1965th Service Command Unit (Ordnance Service Command Shop)
  • 1967th Service Command Unit (Station Complement)
 
*To be activated.
 Army of the United States Station List 7 April 1945
Army Service Forces:
  • Army Service Forces Regional Hospital
  • 3rd Italian Quartermaster Service Company
  • 66th Ordnance Bomb Disposal Squad  
  • 739th Military Police Battalion
  • 1948th Service Command Unit (Dud Searching Detachment
  • 1967th Service Command Unit (Station Complement)
    • Area Veterinary Detachment
    • Prisoner of War Camp
  • 1990th Service Command Unit (Sub-School for Bakers and Cooks)
  • Army Service Forces Depot (Classification)
    • Salvage Segragation Center
    • 9198th Quartermaster Corps Technical Service Unit (Quartermaster Section)
    • 9313th Ordnance Corps Technical Service Unit (Ordnance Section)
    • 9516th Signal Corps Technical Service Unit (Signal Section)
    • 9758th Chemical Warfare Service Technical Service Unit (Chemical Warfare Section)
    • 9832nd Corps of Engineers Technical Serice Unit (Engineer Section)
    • 9924th Surgeon General's Office Technical Service Unit (Medical Section)
 Army of the United States Station List 7 May 1948
Army Service Forces
  • 739th Military Police Battalion
  • 1938th Service Command Unit (Southwestern Branch, US Army Disciplinary Barracks)
    • Field Printing Plant
  • 1967th Service Command Unit (Station Complement)
    • Area Veterinary Detachment
    • Film Library
    • Los Angeles Port of Embarkation Debarkation Center
    • Quartermaster Laundry
    • Salvage Segragation Center
    • Station Hospital
    • Prisoner of War Camp
  • Quartermaster Depot (Classification)
    • Detachment 2 (Classification Sub-Depot), 9193rd Quartermaster Corps Technical Service Unit (Mira Loma Quartermaster Depot)
 
Extract, War Department Inventory of Owned, Sponsored and Leased Facilities, 1945
 
  • Capacity:
  • Acreage
  • Storage:
  • Cost to Government Since 1 July 1940:
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    Updated 3 July 2017