Felicity CA Camp Pilot Know (# 0605b)

This is a reposting of a picture initially posted in 2017. The reposting is because I recently discovered that the outlines of Camp Pilot Knob, a WWII training base, were clearly visible on the Google Satellite view. Near this picture are three pictures taken from the Google Satellite view of the camp, details of the view are with those pictures. Here, some background on Camp Pilot Knob:

Per the inscription on the marker: “Camp Pilot Knob was a unit of the Desert Training Center, established by General George S. Patton Jr., to prepare American troops for battle during World War II. It was the largest military training ground ever to exist. At the peak of activity here at Pilot Knob, June - December, 1943, the 85th Infantry Division, and the 36th and 44th Reconnaissance Squadrons of the 11th (Mechanized) Cavalry trained for roles in the liberation of Europe, 1944-45.” (source Hmark link).

Per the Desert Training Center link, the camp was constructed between January and April of 1943 and was in use only until June of 1944. The only structures on the site were latrines and showers, and pyramidal wood frame tents. The entire camp was 4000 acres with about 700 acres being living area (see later picture) and the remainder was combat training area. The Corp of Engineer link has a map indicating the layout of the camp.

The camp was in an area that was later named Felicity, CA; it is five miles northwest of Yuma, AZ.

Sources:
Hmark: www.hmdb.org/marker.asp?marker=50590
Desert Training Center: deserttrainingcenter.com/CampPilotKnob.html
Corp of Engineers: www.militarymuseum.org/cppilotknob.html