Camp Granite (site)

USA / California / Blythe /
 Second World War 1939-1945, military, historic landmark
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n 1942, the War Department acquired 67,907.5 acres through public land transfer from the U.S. Department of the Interior and leases from the Metropolitan Water District of Southern California. The site was used as a divisional camp during World War II troop training maneuvers by General George Patton, Jr. The divisional camp was one of many associated with the Desert Training Center/California-Arizona Maneuver Area (DTC/CAMA).

One of the DTC/CAMA camps established in 1943 Camp Granite was located about 45 miles west of tile Colorado River. In June 1943 the 76th Field Artillery Brigade was at Camp Granite although the permanent camp had not yet been completed. After the 76th Field Artillery Brigade departed, the 90th Infantry Division took its place and trained there.

The property was declared excess March 30, 1944. On two different occasions between 1944 and 1952, the Department of the Army and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers conducted range clearance operations. Again from 17-30 May 1964, the Department of Defense used the DTC/CAMA for a military exercise code named, DESERT STRIKE.

Camp Granite is located on State Route 62 just east on its junction with State Route 177. Camp Granite is on the south side of the road while Camp Iron Mountain is on the north. Both Camps are visible from the highway.

www.militarymuseum.org/cpgranite.html
Nearby cities:
Coordinates:   34°3'51"N   115°7'21"W

Comments

  • 484th Quartermaster Battalion is NW of Camp Granite A camp, complete with rock-lined walkways and roads and the insignia of the 484th Quartermaster Battalion, exists west of the Freda railroad siding, immediately south of the MWD aqueduct (Figures 140 and 141) . There also appear to be several pieces of water tanks, as well as other miscellaneous metal (Figure 142) . The camp is well preserved and should be considered eligible for listing in the NRHP . It can be accessed from the MWD aqueduct road extending west from California Highway 62, immediately west of where the highway bends at Freda . The camp is approximately 0 .25 miles down the road, to the south .
  • You'll find additional historical information and photographs here: <http://skytrail.info/new/camp_granite.htm>.
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