Camp Laguna

{{Infobox historic site | name = Camp Laguna | image = M4selfpropelled105mmartilleryCampLaguna1943.jpg | caption = M4 self-propelled 105 mm artillery at Camp Laguna in 1943 | location= Yuma Proving Ground, Arizona | coordinates = {{coord| 32.97483| -114.351584 |format=dms|region:US-CA_type:landmark|display=inline,title}} | locmapin = Arizona | area = | built = April of 1942 | architect= US Army | architecture= | designation1 = | designation1_number= | designation1_date = | designation2 = | designation2_date = | designation2_number = | governing_body = }} thumb|right|Map of Desert training center with Camp Laguna thumb|right|Desert Training Center map US Army 1943 thumb|Laguna Army Airfield at the Yuma Test Center|link=Special:FilePath/United_States_Geological_Survey_aerial_view_of_Laguna_Army_Airfield.jpg thumb|right|WW2 M4A3 Sherman Tank at the Wahner E. Brooks Historical Exhibit The '''Camp Laguna''' was a sub camp of the US Army, Desert Training Center in Riverside County, California. The main headquarters for the Desert Training Center was Camp Young, this is where General Patton's 3rd Armored Division was stationed. Camp Laguna is {{convert|16|mi|km}} miles northeast of Yuma, Arizona, off of U.S. Route 95. Trained at Camp Laguna were the 3rd Armored Divisions the 9th Armored Divisions, the 79th Infantry Divisions, 80th Infantry Divisions and 8th Infantry Division. The camp is named after the nearby town of Laguna, Yuma County, Arizona on the Colorado River. Camp Laguna was first World War II training camp built in the Sonoran Desert of Arizona, it trained thousands of troop for war. Most of the land that was Camp Laguna is now part of the vast Yuma Proving Ground.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.ncptt.nps.gov/blog/camp-laguna-arizona/|title=Camp Laguna, Arizona|last=Smith|first=Debbie|date=March 8, 2019|website=National Center for Preservation Technology and Training|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200810162915/https://www.ncptt.nps.gov/blog/camp-laguna-arizona/ |archive-date=2020-08-10 |access-date=2019-09-06}}</ref><ref>{{cite web | url=http://arizona.hometownlocator.com/az/yuma/laguna.cfm | publisher=AZ Hometown Locator| title=Laguna (in Yuma County, AZ) Populated Place Profile | accessdate=December 6, 2016}}</ref>

{{Main|Desert Training Center}} Camp Laguna was built in April 1942. The Desert Training Center was built to prepare troops to do battle in North Africa to fight the Nazis during World War II. At the camp's railway station were two large stone columns marking the entrance to the camp. When completed the camp had shower buildings, latrines, wooden tent frames, water storage tanks and water treatment plant. The camp was closed in April 1944.<ref>Arizona Goes to War: The Home Front and the Front Lines During World War II, page 195</ref><ref>[http://discipleup.org/dtc-cama/ The Desert Training Center, “The Place that God Forgot”]</ref>

==Laguna Army Airfield== {{Main|Laguna Army Airfield}} The Laguna Army Airfield (LGF) was built about 2 miles north of Camp Laguna. The army built the Laguna Army Airfield landing strip to support Camp Laguna's training activities. The runway was used for small planes, like the L-4 Piper Aircraft so the vast training grounds could be watched from the air. The runway was long enough for large planes to be used in training exercises also. It was one of many Arizona World War II Army Airfields. The Laguna Army Airfield is still in use today.<ref name=FAA>{{FAA-airport|ID=LGF|use=PR|own=MR|site=00841.2*A}}, effective 2008-04-10</ref><ref name="YPG airfield">[https://www.army.mil/article/222712/game_changing_unmanned_aircraft_tested_at_us_army_yuma_proving_ground Game-changing unmanned aircraft tested at U.S. Army Yuma Proving Ground], Army.mil, by Mr. Mark Schauer (ATEC), dated 3 June 2019, last accessed 24 July 2019</ref>

==Yuma Test Branch== {{Main|Yuma Test Branch}} Yuma Test Branch was built in 1943 northwest of Camp Laguna, in what is now the Yuma Proving Ground. The Yuma Test Branch, also called the '''Italians at the Yuma Test Branch''', was built to test mobile bridge building equipment. The site is near the Colorado River, thus was ideal for testing mobile combat bridges, amphibious vehicles, and boats. Many Italian soldiers who became prisoners of war after the North African campaign turned and supported the United States in the Italian Service Units. These Italian were used at the Yuma Test Branch to help build the test combat bridges from 1944 to 1945. The Yuma Test Branch site was closed in 1949. In 1951 the site reopened as the Yuma Test Station. The site was renamed the Yuma Proving Ground in 1962.<ref name="YPG History">[https://web.archive.org/web/20181123022517/https://www.yuma.army.mil/history.html Yuma Proving Ground Continues Area's Army History], yuma.army.mil, last accessed 22 November 2018</ref>

==Wahner E. Brooks Historical Exhibit== At the place of the former Camp Laguna, now the grounds of Yuma Proving Ground is the '''Wahner E. Brooks Historical Exhibit'''. The exhibit has items on display from World War II and the Yuma Test Branch to present day equipment. The displays include: * M4A3 Sherman Tank, * Howitzers, * XM51 Little John Rocket, * Honest John Rocket, * M2A1 40 MM Towed Antiaircraft Gun, * M42A2 "Duster" Antiaircraft Artillery, * M91 115.4.5 Inch multiple rocket launcher, * Sergeant York 40MM Antiaircraft Weapons System, * M74 Tank Recovery Vehicle, * M47 Medium Tank, * M728 Combat Engineer Vehicle, * M551 "Sheridan" Armored Reconnaissance Airborne Assault Vehicle, and * M113A1 Armored Personnel Carrier.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://walkaboutwithwheels.blogspot.com/2013/12/the-wahner-e-brooks-historical-exhibit.html|title=The Wahner E. Brooks Historical Exhibit at the US Army Yuma Proving Ground|last=Ginny|first=|date=2013-12-23|website=Walkabout With Wheels Blog|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190905185209/https://walkaboutwithwheels.blogspot.com/2013/12/the-wahner-e-brooks-historical-exhibit.html |archive-date=2019-09-05 |access-date=2019-09-06}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.waymarking.com/waymarks/WM460A_Camp_Laguna_Yuma_Proving_Grounds|title=Camp Laguna - Yuma Proving Grounds - Military Installations on Waymarking.com|website=www.waymarking.com|access-date=2019-09-06}}</ref> * The Yuma Visitor Center offers addition information about Camp Laguna, Yuma Proving Ground and the surrounding areas.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.visityuma.com/visitor-info-center.html|title=Visitor Info Center – Welcome To Yuma, Arizona – On The River's Edge|website=www.visityuma.com|language=en|access-date=2019-09-06}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.universe.com/events/camp-laguna-ypg-military-tour-11519-tickets-09ZNKY|title=Camp Laguna: YPG Military Tour (1/15/19)|website=Universe|language=en|access-date=2019-09-06}}</ref> The US Army has a museums that also showcases the history of Camp Laguna, Yuma Proving Ground and the surrounding areas at the: Yuma Proving Ground Heritage Center.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://history.army.mil/museums/IMCOM/yumaProvingGround/index.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190905220219/https://history.army.mil/museums/IMCOM/yumaProvingGround/index.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=September 5, 2019|title=Yuma Proving Ground Heritage Center|website=history.army.mil|access-date=2019-09-06}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://history.army.mil/museums/IMCOM/yumaProvingGround/docs/yumaHeritageCenter.pdf|title=Heritage Center: U.S. Army Yuma Proving Ground|last=|first=|date=|website=history.army.mil|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190905220205/https://history.army.mil/museums/IMCOM/yumaProvingGround/docs/yumaHeritageCenter.pdf |archive-date=2019-09-05 |access-date=2019-09-06}}</ref>

==Historical Markers== Marker at the Camp Laguna (Wahner E. Brooks Historical Exhibit) site reads: * ''Camp Laguna operated from April 1942 to April 1944. It was one of twelve such camps built in the southwestern deserts to train United States troops during World War II. The Desert Training Center, a simulated theater of operations, included portions of Arizona, California and Nevada. The other camps were Young, Coxcomb, Iron Mountain, Ibis, Clipper, Pilot Knob, Bouse, Granite, Horn, Hyder, and Rice. Over one million soldiers from approximately 400 units were trained at the center. These units included 13 infantry divisions, 7 armored divisions and numerous non-divisional units. Camp Laguna was the training site for the 3rd and 9th Armored Divisions, 79th Infantry Divisions, Italian service units and special bridge test section. '' Erected 1998 by Lost Dutchman Chapter 5917, Ancient and Honorable order of E Clampus Vitus, In cooperation with The United States Army, Yuma Proving Ground.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.hmdb.org/marker.asp?marker=29061|title=Camp Laguna Historical Marker|website=www.hmdb.org|access-date=2019-09-06}}</ref>

Marker at the Italians at the Yuma Test Branch site reads: * '' During World War II, the Yuma proving ground of the United States Army Corps of Engineers was known as the Yuma Test Branch, which was used as a floating-bridge test facility. By 1944, more allied troop support was needed to conduct the bridge tests at the Yuma Test Branch. By this time, Italy had surrendered to the United States. A group of Italian prisoners-of-war, who were captured in North Africa, pledged their loyalty and support to the United States. These Italians were then formed into two Italian service units and were stationed at the Yuma Test Branch from 1944 to 1945 to assist in testing floating bridges. In addition to their bridge-building capability, they were talented in fine art, culinary art and stonemasonry. This concrete-lined stone-faced paint shed, decorated with three castles bearing the United States Army Corps of Engineers insignia and one castle inscribed with the word "Italy" was constructed by them to facilitate the safe storage of paint at the Yuma Test Branch. Because the temperature was cooler underground, the paint was stored below ground under all of the stone decorations, a method which was free of fire hazards.''<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.hmdb.org/marker.asp?marker=29059|title=Italians at the Yuma Test Branch Historical Marker|website=www.hmdb.org|access-date=2019-09-06}}</ref>

==Wahner E. Brooks Historical Exhibit and Camp Laguna== The following are the images of the historic structures in Wahner E. Brooks Historical Exhibit, Camp Laguna and its surrounding areas. {{Gallery |File:TankComingOutofwashCampLaguna1943.jpg|Tank coming out of wash Camp Laguna in 1943 |File:CampLaguna1942.jpg|M3 Lee Tank Tank with blade test at Camp Laguna in 1942 |File:MohaveManeuverAreaC.jpg|Mohave Maneuver Area C, river crossings training program in 1964 |File:M107 175mm Self Propelled Gun (28037830217).jpg|M107 175mm Self Propelled Gun |File:M109A7 Self-propelled Howitzer.jpg|M109A7 Self-propelled Howitzer |File:Sunset at big guns.JPG|M107 175mm Self Propelled Gun |File:M110-203-mm-howitzer-yuma-1975.jpg| M110 203 mm howitzer |File:Yuma Proving Ground, Arizona (42906629311).jpg|M728 Combat Engineer Vehicle (CEV) with 165mm Demolition Gun. |File:Yuma Proving Ground, Arizona (42906510311).jpg|M247 "Sgt York" DIVAD (Division Air Defense) twin 40mm self propelled air defense gun. |File:Yuma Proving Ground, Arizona (41096249690).jpg|M247 "Sgt York" DIVAD (Division Air Defense) twin 40mm self propelled air defense gun |File:Yuma Proving Ground, Arizona (41096488570).jpg|M65 280mm "Atomic Cannon", aka "Atomic Annie". |File:Yuma Proving Ground, Arizona (42005890565).jpg|M60 Tank |File:Yuma Proving Ground, Arizona (42188342504).jpg|M551 Light Tank "Armored Reconnaissance/Airborne Assault Vehicle" (AR/AAV) |File:Yuma Proving Ground, Arizona (29034497118).jpg|M65 280mm "Atomic Cannon", aka "Atomic Annie". |File:Yuma Proving Ground, Arizona (29034464108).jpg|M113A2 Armored Personnel Carrier (APC) |File:Yuma Proving Ground, Arizona (29034383068).jpg|M108 105mm Self Propelled Howitzer |File:Yuma Proving Ground, Arizona (29034348408).jpg|M103 120mm Gun Heavy Tank |File:Yuma Proving Ground, Arizona (28037944867).jpg|M103 120mm Gun Heavy Tank |File:Yuma Proving Ground, Arizona (28037880537).jpg|M74 Tank Recovery Vehicle |File:M108 and M247.jpg|M108 Tank and M247 tank |File:Yuma Proving Ground museum - panoramio.jpg|Wahner E. Brooks Historical Exhibit |File:MGM-51 Shillelagh2.jpg|MGM-51 Shillelagh Anti-tank missile fired from M551 Sheridan light tank |YumaProvingGroundHeritageCenter.jpg|Yuma Proving Ground Heritage Center, Army Museum |File:USarmylivefireexercises_remains.jpg|US Army live fire exercises remains at Desert Training Center |File:Fort_Yuma_California_1875.jpg|Fort Yuma in 1875

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==External links== * [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JbyzUsws-58 Training Center Boogie – Song by John Malcolm Penn, song about : Desert training camps] * {{HAER |survey=AZ-5 |id=az0212 |title=Yuma Proving Ground, Yuma, Yuma County, AZ |photos= |data=39 |cap=}}

==References== {{reflist}}

Category:Former training facilities of the United States Army Category:Military facilities in Arizona Category:1942 establishments in Arizona Category:1944 disestablishments in Arizona Category:Military installations established in 1942 Category:Military installations closed in 1944