Borrego Valley Maneuver Area

Borrego Valley Maneuver Area also called the Borrego Springs Naval Maneuver Area was a US Army Anti-Aircraft Training Center (AARTC) and a subcamp of Camp Callan. Located near Borrego Springs, California in San Diego County in the Imperial Valley. Opened in March 1942 and in use until August 1944, it was operated by the Western Defense Command. Marine Corps also used the site to train troops in driving army vehicles. The site was picked as it was 400 square miles, 255,840 acres, of barren desert, barren mountains, and badlands. When closed the land returned to the State of California. Built at the site were bombing stations, strafing stations, and rocket targets. Also installed was Anti-Aircraft Artillery for training. First week troop did dry run training and the second week live-fire training. Ammo fired was from .33 to 90mmm. The US Navy trained in the bombing, gunnery, and rocketry. California Institute of Technology help with the rocket training. The air support the base was Naval Outlying Landing Field Clark's Dry Lake, Naval Outlying Field, Ocotillo Dry Lake and Borrego Hotel Naval Outlying Landing Field.[1][2][3]

Borrego Valley Maneuver Area
Part of US Navy
Borrego Springs, California
Map Borrego Valley Maneuver Area
Coordinates33°16′23″N 116°06′36″W
TypeMilitary training base
Site information
Owner United States of America
Controlled by United States Army
Site history
Built1942
In use1942-1944
Demolished1945
EventsUS Army, Navy and Marines Training for WW2
Borrego Hotel Target Area in red and Borrego Valley Maneuver Area
Map of Ensign Ranch Airfield

Camp Ensign

In the Borrego Valley Maneuver Area the US Marines built Camp Ensign at the site of the Ensign Ranch in Borrego Springs in 1943. Troops from San Diego came to the camp for training for two weeks. The training was in driving military trucks at night. The former Base Headquarters is now near the Borrego Springs Spa and Resort. The site was Ensign Ranch date palm orchards before the camp.[4][5]

Ensign Ranch Airfield

Ensign Ranch Airfield was a single northwest-southeast unpaved runway built-in 1943 just south of Camp Ensign to support the camp. There are no remains of the former field. The site is now part of the Borrego Springs Spa and Resort.33.233°N 116.357°W / 33.233; -116.357[6]

Borrego Hotel Target Area

About 3 miles south of the Borrego Valley Maneuver Area was the 222 acres Borrego Hotel Target Area. Borrego Hotel bombing target had three circles that the Navy used for San Diego Naval Air Station's aircraft carrier plane high-altitude bombing, dive-bombing and strafing. Near the Target Area was supported by the Naval Outlying Field, Ocotillo Dry Lake. The Target Area opened in 1941 and closed in 1955. In 1956 the land was sold and is now private property just south of California State Route 78.[7][8]

Borrego Hotel Naval Outlying Landing Field

About 3 miles south of the Borrego Valley Maneuver Area was the Borrego Hotel Naval Outlying Landing Field. Landing Field was used for emergency landing activities. The Landing Field had two dirt runways built on Halfhill Dry Lake. The site was used from 1941 to 1955. On 6 6 September 1956 the land was sold. There are no remains of the former field.33.09°N 116.1°W / 33.09; -116.1 [9]

Benson Bombing Range

Benson Bombing Range also called the Benson/Ocotillo Dry Lake Range was used for bombing, dive-bombing and strafing training. The 353 acre Range was located on the Benson Dry Lake and Ocotillo Dry Lake near Ocotillo Wells, California.[10]

See also

References
  1. "Archives Search Report | Findings for the former Borrego Maneuver Area" (PDF). militarymuseum.org. June 1997. Archived (PDF) from the original on 18 December 2015. Retrieved 10 February 2021.
  2. "Borrego Springs Naval Maneuver Area". MILITARY POISONS. Archived from the original on 25 July 2020. Retrieved 10 February 2021.
  3. "California in World War II: San Diego Metropolitan Area during World War II". www.militarymuseum.org. 8 February 2016. Archived from the original on 26 October 2004. Retrieved 10 February 2021.
  4. "Camp Ensign". www.militarymuseum.org. 3 July 2017. Archived from the original on 20 December 2015. Retrieved 10 February 2021.
  5. "Archives Search Report | Findings for Camp Ensign" (PDF). militarymuseum.org. May 1997. Archived (PDF) from the original on 20 December 2015. Retrieved 10 February 2021.
  6. Freeman, Paul (3 December 2016). "Abandoned & Little-Known Airfields: California: Eastern San Diego County | Ensign Ranch Airfield, Borrego Springs, CA". members.tripod.com. Archived from the original on 22 April 2009. Retrieved 10 February 2021.
  7. "Borrego Hotel". www.spl.usace.army.mil. Retrieved 10 February 2021.
  8. "Fact Sheet | Borrego Hotel Target Area and Emergency Landing Field, Ocotillo Wells, CA" (PDF). spl.usace.army.mil. 2013. Archived (PDF) from the original on 10 September 2015. Retrieved 10 February 2021.
  9. "Borrego Hotel Naval Outlying Landing Field". wikimapia.org. Retrieved 10 February 2021.
  10. "Archives Search Report | Findings for Benson/Ocotillo Dry Lake" (PDF). militarymuseum.org. May 1997. Archived (PDF) from the original on 18 December 2015. Retrieved 10 February 2021.
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