Camp Coxcomb (site)

 Second World War 1939-1945, military, historic landmark

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Camp Coxcomb is located between California Highway 177 and the MWD aqueduct, Camp Coxcomb was originally constructed in the summer of 1942 as one of several divisional campsites of the WW-II Desert Training Center. Among units known to have been stationed at Camp Coxcomb were the 7th Armored and the 85th Infantry Divisions. The 7th Armored Division was stationed at the camp during the expansion to a theater of operation in June 1943. During the XV Corps occupation of the DTC/C-AMA (July-November 1943), the 85th Infantry was transferred from Camp Pilot Knob to Camp Coxcomb, in August. The 95th and 93rd Infantry Divisions also trained at the camp, although it is not known when. Camp Coxcomb was apparently more permanent than other camps (including Camp Pilot Knob), with wooden floors and screens in the post exchange (PX), although the roof was tent canvas and the latrines were more elaborate with wooden floors and screens. Facilities at the camp included 39 shower buildings, 165 latrines, 284 pyramidal wooden tent frames, one 40,000-gallon water tank, and one combination observation and flag tower. There was also a relief map of the DTC/C-AMA and a stone altar, much like those at Camp Iron Mountain. Ranges included infiltration courses and machine gun, rifle, and pistol ranges. These ranges were located on the north side of the MWD aqueduct, at the foot of the Coxcomb Mountains. Some of the adjacent canyons west of camp were also used for small-unit training.

See: DTCSkyTrail.com

Current Condition
A paved road leads to the Coxcomb Tunnel off of California Highway 177. This road lies immediately south of the camp itself, and several camp roads head north off of it . The MWD aqueduct lies immediately west of the camp before it enters a tunnel through the mountains, and a road paralleling the aqueduct forms the western boundary of the camp. California Highway 177 lies to the east, less than 1 mile away. A large portion of the camp has been completely washed away, although there are many well-defined roads and walkways in other portions of the facility. Rock-lined insignias also remain in various portions of the camp. An altar constructed of native rock and mortar still remains, and it has been maintained by volunteers. I. H. S. is etched into the altar, representing a Greek symbol for Jesus. A cross on the altar is made from a water-barrel hoop. A small relief map is near the flag circle in the southern portion of the camp, which was fenced by the BLM in 1984. The relief map contains a few small sign boards.[1]


[1] The Desert Training Center/California-Arizona Maneuver Area,1942-1944 HISTORICAL AND ARCHAEOLOGICAL CONTEXTS; Matt C . Bischoff

Other remnants of the Camp include rock designs of military insignia and the stone work which lines the camp roads and walkways

The original roadway network has deteriorated a great deal due to scouring by erosion and the emergence of natural vegetation. The alter at Camp Coxcomb, located on the southwest corner of East Tent Road and 5th streets, remains in good condition, and was constructed of native rock, and held together with mortar. I.H.S. etched on the alter is from the Greek - Iota Eta Sigma, used as a Christian symbol or monogram for Jesus. The cross is made from a water barrel hoop. The contour map has deteriorated appreciably. Most of the wooden signs on the map, which identified camps and significant features of the center, are no longer legible. The concrete protective surface used to hold the topographic features in shape has been broken. As a result, erosion has taken its toll on the map surface. A six-foot high fence was constructed around this map in 1984 by the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) to preserve what remains of this feature.

According to a BLM report, seven firing range areas are located on the Camp Coxcomb-site. These accommodated small arms practice. All of these ranges are within the boundaries of the camp. Historical reports also suggest that land mines and grenades were used in the area.


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Camp Coxcomb was established in 1942, as one of at ten major Army training camps in the desert which were constructed to train the forces of General George Patton, as part of the 12 million acre Desert Training Center. The Camp Coxcomb property consisted of a total of 10,400 acres.

At some point between 1942-44 an airfield was built on the east side of the road (Route 177), presumably the training operations at Camp Coxcomb (located on the opposite side of the road). The Army Corps of Engineers history of Camp Coxcomb included no mention of the airfield.

The California Arizona Maneuver Area (formerly known as the Desert Training Center) was declared surplus in 1944, which is when presumably the Camp Coxcomb airfield was abandoned. No airfield at Camp Coxcomb was depicted on the March 1951 San Diego Sectional Chart (according to Chris Kennedy).

At some point between 1951-52 the Coxcomb airfield was reopened as a civilian airport, as that is how it was depicted on the March 1952 San Diego Sectional Chart (courtesy of Chris Kennedy). It depicted “Coxcomb” as having a 4,500' unpaved runway.

The status of the Coxcomb Airfield evidently changed to a private field at some point between 1952-55, as that is how it was depicted on the September 1955 San Diego Sectional Aeronautical Chart (courtesy of Chris Kennedy). The Coxcomb Airfield was evidently abandoned (for reasons unknown) at some point between 1955-58, as it was no longer depicted at all on the October 1958 San Diego Sectional Chart (according to Chris Kennedy).

Most of the former Desert Training Center camps & airfields were depicted on recent USGS topo maps. However, neither the Camp Coxcomb Airfield nor the surrounding camp street grid is depicted at all on the 1969, 1986, or 1987 USGS topo maps of the area.

In the 1995 USGS aerial photo, the outline of the runway was just barely discernible, running north/south, parallel to the highway. The street grid of the former camp on the opposite side of the road was also still recognizable in recent aerial photos. The Camp Coxcomb airfield was not depicted at all (even as an abandoned airfield) on 2002 aeronautical charts.

The Camp Coxcomb Airfield site is located along the east side of Route 177, 24 miles southwest of Freda.

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