Historic California Posts, Camps, Stations and Airfields
California's World War II Coast Artillery Training Centers
by Mark Berhow
Coast Defense Study Group
 
Camp Callan

University of California at San Diego, private land: Genessee Ave to N. Torrey Pines Rd. (foundations to the south). The old main entrance is at the Torrey Pines Inn off of Torrey Pines Rd.

Camp Callan was built in November of 1940 as a Coast Artillery Corps replacement training center for new inductees. Open for business in January of 1941, it was named for Maj. Gen. Robert Callan. By 1942, the post had over 297 buildings, covered 23 blocks, had 5 post exchanges, 3 theaters and 5 chapels. About 15,000 men went through a 13 week training cycle with a strong emphasis on modern coast artillery and anti-aircraft defense weapons. The Anti-Aircraft training program was moved to Ft. Bliss, Texas, in 1944 and Camp Callan was declared surplus in November 1945. Most of the buildings were purchased by the city of San Diego and sold for salvage. Today, the site contains a variety of developments including: the Torrey Pines golf course, several private businesses and research facilities, a glider port and a section of the University of California at San Diego. A few foundations remain in the area to the north of the University of California Campus.
 
Camp Haan
 
March AFB: Camp was located on Army Air Corps property on the west side of Interstate 215.

Developed in November 1940 as a Coast Artillery anti-aircraft training center on property adjacent to March Air Field, Camp Haan (named after Maj. Gen. William G. Haan, C.A.C.) was opened in January 1941. By October of 1941, the Camp had 353 buildings, 2,459 floor tents, 6 exchanges, 5 chapels, a hospital, 18 miles of sewers, and 28 miles of streets. By 1942, the Camp was serving as an Army Service Force Depot and a prisoner of war camp in addition to its AA duties. After serving briefly as a separation center, Camp Haan was closed on August 31, 1946. The buildings were sold for surplus and the property returned to the Air Corps. Today much of the land that was Camp Haan has been used by the Air Force for a cemetery, housing, a golf course, and the HQ of the 15th Air Force. A few foundations remain in the northern section of the old camp. The March Air Force Museum has a display on Camp Haan.
 
 
Camp McQuaide

Monterey Bay Academy, Watsonville off of State Highway One on San Andres Drive.

A 400 acre site was purchased in the late 1930s as a training site for the 250th Coast Artillery Regiment (CNG). Following the expansion of the Army in 1940, the camp was developed as a Coast Artillery Training Center. In 1943, the post was converted to the West Coast Processing Center, the official stockade for all the stateside Army AWOLs and other troublemakers. With the warís end, the post was declared surplus. Several buildings remain at the site, most have been substantially altered.
 
 
 
 
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Updated 23 June 2017