California State Military Department

The California State Military Museum

Preserving California's Military Heritage

---

Historic California Posts

Camp Pilot Knob

Camp Pilot Knob was at the southern end of the California-Arizona Maneuver Area (CAMA) just north of Yuma, Arizona. The 6th and 85th Infantry Divisions trained here. To reach the site, go north one mile on Sidewinder Road from its junction with Interstate Highway 8 just northwest of Yuma. The camp can be seen from Sidewinder Road.

Source: World War II Sites in the United States: A Tour Guide and Directory by Richard E. Osbourne

 

Corps of Engineers History

 

Camp Pilot Knob was established in 1943 by the War Department when they secured 4,004.75 acres of desert land as part of the California-Arizona Maneuver Area (CAMA), later named the Desert Training Center, for Camp Pilot Knob. The camp was designed as a temporary location to train troops (initialy the 85th Infantry Division) in desert warfare. There are records indicating the presence of four (4) firing ranges utilizing up to .30 caliber ammunition and the only structures erected on the land were temporary latrines and pyramidal wood frame tents.

 

Camp Pilot Knob, is located five miles to the northwest of Yuma, Arizona. The map coordinates are latitude 33°, 44', 25" north and longitude 114°, 43', 10" west. The site is located on the Quechan Tribe of the. Fort Yuma Indian Reservation.

 

 

---

[WELCOME] [LOCATION AND HOURS] [CURRENT EXHIBITS] [MG WALTER P. STORY LIBRARY] [SATELLITE AND PARTNER MUSEUMS]

[HOW CAN I HELP?] [WHAT'S NEW?] [UPCOMING EVENTS] [CALIFORNIA MILITARY HISTORY] [HERALDRY & INSIGNIA] [ONLINE BOOKSTORE]

[CALIFORNIA CENTER FOR MILITARY HISTORY] [LINKS]

 

FastCounter by LinkExchange