California and World War II
Prisoner of War Camps and Italian Service Units in California

Prisoner of War Base and Branch Camps

Name of camp, county, average number of prisoners, principle type of work, and dates of operation.

California Base and Branch Camps

  • Amphibious Training Base, Coronado, San Diego County, 1,000 German prisoners, military. Opened 1 November 1945, unknown closing date.
  • Birmingham General Hospital, Los Angeles County, 150 Italians, Hospital, Established as base camp 3 July 1945, closed 8 September 1945.
  • Burbank Prisoner of War Processing Station, Los Angeles County, 600 prisoner capacity. Opened 10 September 1942.
  • Byron Hot Springs, Conta Costa County, reception and interrogation center. Opened December 1942. Closed September 1945.
  • Camp Beale, Yuba County, 1,000 - 1,100 prisoners, military.Opened July 1944, closed June 1946.
  • Arbuckle, Colusa County, 246 prisoners, agricultural. Transferred to the War Department, 14 March 1945, Transferred back to US Department of Agriculture 1 August 1946
  • Chico, Butte County, 475 prisoners, agricultural. Opened September 1945, closed October 1945.
  • Davis, Yolo County, 232 prisoners, agricultural. Opened August 1945, closed November 1945.
  • Napa, Napa County, 250 prisoners, agricultural. Opened September 1945, closed November 1945.
  • Windsor, Sonoma County, 333 prisoners, agricultural. Opened 1 August 1944, closed 4 June 1946
  • Camp Cooke, Santa Barbara County, 3,526 prisoners, military. Opened July1944, closed May 1946.
  • Boswell Ranch, Corcoran, Kings County, 499 prisoners, agricultural. Opened August 1945, transferred to Lamont Prisoner of War Base Camp October 1945
  • Buttonwillow, Kern County, 396 prisoners, agricultural. Opened 24 October 1945; closed 14 January 1946
  • Chino, San Bernardino County, 342 prisoners, agricultural. Opened November 1944. Transferred to Pomona Ordnance Depot April 1945.
  • Corcoran, Kings County, 392 prisoners, agricultural. Opened January 1945, closed July 1945.
  • Corcoran/Lakelands, Kings County, 444 prisoners, agricultural. Opened 14 May 1945, transferred to Lamont Prisoner of War Base Camp November 1945. Transfered back from Lamont Prisoner of War Base Camp 3 January 1946, closed 15 February 1946.
  • Delano, Kern County, 622 prisoners Opened 24 October 1945 closed, 26 March 1946
  • Edwards Ranch/Goleta, Santa Barbara County, 247 prisoners, Agricultural. Opened 20 October 1944, closed 4 December 1945.
  • Lamont, Kern County, 946 prisoners, agricultural, Opened 18 December 1944, established as a separate prisoner of war base camp 5 October 1945 to 7 January 1946. Reestablish control 7 January 1946, closed 23 March 1946.
  • Lemoore, Fresno County, 1,166 prisoners, agricultural. Opened 8 December 1945, closed 11 April 1946
  • Old River, Kern County, 501 prisoners, agricultural. Opened 18 October 1945, closed 6 January 1946
  • Rankin Field, Tulare County. 746 prisoners, Opened 2 December 2945, closed 31 January 1946.
  • Saticoy, Ventura County, 437 prisoners, agricultural. Opened 27 May 1945. Transferred to Stockton Ordnance Depot May 1946.
  • Shafter, Kern County, 416 prisoners, agricultural. Opened 18 December 1944, closed 5 October 1945.
  • Tachi Farms, Corcoran, Kings County, 250 prisoners, agricultural. Opened 21 November 1945, closed 2 Jan 1946
  • Tagus Ranch, Tulare, Tulare County, 220 prisoners Agricultural. Opened 29 July 1944, closed 13 February 1946
  • Tipton, Tulare County, 397 prisoners, Agricultural. Opened 24 May 1945, closed 4 February 1946
  • Tulare Fairgrounds, Tulare County, 320 prisoners Military and agricultural. Opened 11 December 1944, closed 24 January 1946
  • Camp Haan, Riverside County, 845 German and Italian prisoners, military. Opened 9 September 1944, closed June 1945.
  • Birmingham General Hospital, Los Angeles, 45 prisoners, hospital. Opened June 1945, became a base camp 3 July 1945.
  • Camp Anza, Riverside, County, 207 prisoners, military. Opened December 1945, closed April 1946.
  • Camp Roberts, Monterey and San Luis Obispo Counties, 95 prisoners, military. Transferred from Hill Field October 1944 closed March 1945.
  • Camp Irwin, San Bernardino County, 178 prisoners, military. Control transferred from Florence, AZ October 1944. Transferred back to Florence, AZ, November 1944. Reopened May 1945, closed July 1945.
  • Mitchell General Hospital, San Diego County, 176 prisoners, military. Opened October 1944, established as a separate prisoner of war base camp March 1945.
  • Santa Ana Army Air Base, Orange County, 108 prisoners, military. Transferred from Pomona Ordnance Depot April 1946, closed May 1946.
  • Camp Roberts, Monterey and San Luis Obispo Counties, 823 prisoners, military. Control transferred from Camp Haan April 1945, closed May 1946.
  • Camp San Luis Obispo, San Luis Obispo County, 373 prisoners, military. Opened May 1945, closed May 1946.
  • Camp Shoemaker, Contra Costa County, 716 prisoners, military. Opened August 1945, closed May 1946.
  • Camp Stoneman, Contra Costa County, 1,434 prisoners, military. Opened August 1945, closed June 1946.
  • Fort McDowell, Marin County, 277 prisoners, military. Opened December 1945, closed March 1946.*
  • DeWitt General Hosptal/Camp Flint, Placer County, 200 German prisoners, hospital. Opened 12 June 1945, transferred to Stockton Ordnance Depot and closed March 1945.
  • Fort Mason, San Francisco County, unknown number of prisoners, military. Opened and closed February 1945.
  • Fort McDowell, Marin County, Prisoner of War Reception Station*
  • Fort Ord, Monterey County, 2,135 prisoners, military. Opened May 1944, closed April 1946.
  • Coalinga, Fresno County, 432 prisoners, agricultural. Opened November 1945, closed February 1946.
  • Dairyland (Ashville/Chowchilla), Madera County, 289 prisoners, agricultural. Initially Opened February 1945, closed March 1945. Reopened August 1945, closed February 1946.
  • Dos Palos, Merced County, 245 prisoners, agricultural. Opened November 1945, closed February 1946.
  • Firebaugh, Fresno County, 415 prisoners, agricultural. Opened June 1945, closed January 1946.
  • Five Points No. 1, Fresno County. 392 prisoners, agricultural. Opened February 1945, closed April 1945. reopened November 1945, closed February 1946.
  • Five Points No. 2, Fresno County. 498 prisoners, agricultural. Opened December 1945, closed February 1946.
  • Madera, Fresno County, 289 prisoners, agricultural. Opened February 1945, closed February 1946.
  • San Joaquin, Fresno County, 500 prisoners agricultural. Opened December 1945, closed February 1946.
  • Soledad, Monterey County, 409 prisoners, agricultural. Opened November 1944, transferred to Stockton Ordnance Depot May 1946.
  • Tranquility, Fresno County, 507 prisoners, agricultural. Opened December 1945, closed February 1946.
  • Lamont Prisoner of War Base Camp, Kern County, 2,683 German and Japanese prisoners, agricultural, Transferred from Camp Cooke 5 October 1945. Transferred back to Camp Cooke 7 January 1946.
  • Boswell Ranch, Corcoran, Kings County, 713 German prisoners, agricultural. Transferred from Camp Cooke November 1945, April 1946.
  • Corcoran/Lakelands, Kings County, 1,733 German prisoners, agricultural. Transferred from Camp Cooke November 1945. Transferred back to Camp Cooke 3 January 1945.
  • Letterman General Hospital, San Francisco, 150 - 200 German and Italian prisoners, military. Opened April 1945, closed January 1946.
  • Mitchell Convelesent Hospital, San Diego County, 120 - 380 German and Italian prisoners, military. Transferred from Camp Haan 29 March 1945, closed 22 March 1946
  • Needles Station Hospital, San Bernardino County, military
  • Pomona Ordnance Depot, Los Angeles County, 1,151 prisoners, military. Opened March 1945, closed 31 July 1946.
  • Chino, San Bernadino County, 513 prisoners, agricultural. Transferred from Camp Cooke 1945, closed October 1945.
  • Garden Grove, Orange County, 535 prisoners, agricultural. Opened June 1945, closed November 1945.
  • San Fernando, Los Angeles County, 333 prisoners, agricultural. Opened July 1945, closed November 1945.
  • Santa Ana Army Air Base, Orange County, 719 prisoners, military. Opened December 1945. Transferred to Camp Haan March 1946.
  • Santa Anita Ordnance Training Center, Los Angeles County, 100 Italian Prisoners, Military (Branch Camp of Hill Field, Utah)
  • Stockton Ordnance Depot, San Joaquin County, 1,500 German prisoners, military. Opened May 1944, closed June 1946.
  • Bacon Island, San Joaquin County, 251 German prisoners, agricultural. Opened June 1945, closed November 1945.
  • Benicia Arsenal, Solono County,439 German prisoners, military. Opened March 1946, closed June 1946.
  • Bouldin Island, San Joaquin County, 257 agricultural. Opened June 1945, closed January 1946.
  • California Quartermaster Sub-Depot, Tracy, San Joaquin County, 346 prisoners, military. Opened March 1946, closed May 1946.
  • Camp Kohler, Sacramento County, 308 prisoners, military. Opended August 1845, closed March 1946.
  • Clarksburg, Yolo County, 323 prisoners, agricultural. Opened June 1945, closed November 1945. Reopened April 1946, closed June 1946.
  • Corcoran No. 1, Yolo County, 329 prisoners, agricultural. Opened and closed June 1946
  • DeWitt General Hosptal/Camp Flint, Placer County, 110 German prisoners, military. Control established and closed March 1946.
  • King Island, San Joaquin County, 241 prisoners, agricultural. Opened June 1945, closed November 1945.
  • Lathrop, San Joaquin County, 469 prisoners, military. Opened January 1946, closed May 1946.
  • McClellan Field, Sacramento County, 522 prisoners, military. Opened April 1946, closed May 1946.
  • Rindge Tract, San Joaquin County, 227 prisoners, agricultural. Opened June 1945, closed September 1945.
  • Roberts Island, San Joaquin County, 234 prisoners, agricultural. Opened November 1944, closed December 1945.
  • Sacramento Signal Depot, Sacramento County, 363 prisoners, military. Opened April 1945, closed May 1946.
  • San Joaquin County Fairgrounds, San Joaquin County, 889 prisoners, military. Transferred from Fort Ord closed June 1946.
  • Saticoy, Ventura County, 207 prisoners, agricultural. Transferred from Fort Ord and closed June 1946.
  • Soledad, Monterey County, 207 prisoners, agricultural. Transferred from Fort Ord and closed May 1946.
  • Upper Jones Tract, San Joaquin County, 224 prisoners, agricultural. Opened June 1945, closed November 1945.
  • Vernalis, San Joaquin County, 757 prisoners, agricultural. Opened June 1945, closed March 1946.
  • Torney General Hospital, Riverside County, 210 Italian prisoners, military. Open 1 April 1945, closed April 1945.
  • Treasure Island Naval Station, San Francisco County, 855 German prisoners, military. Opened July1945, closed April 1946.
    • Arizona Base Camps with California Branch Camps
  • Florance Base Prisoner of War Camp
     
  • Rupert Base Prisoner of War Camp
    Oregon Base Camps with California Branch Camps
  • Camp White
    Utah Base Camps with California Branch Camps
  • Hill Field
  • Toole Ordnance Depot
     
    Italian Service Units (ISU) in California
     
    California ISUs asis listed in the Adjutant General's Station List of the Army of the United States, dated 7 April 1945
  • Camp Anza
    • 8th Italian Quartermaster Service Company
  • Benicia Arsenal
    • 4th Italian Quartermaster Service Company
    • 5th Italian Quartermaster Service Company
    • 50th Italian Quartermaster Service Company
  • Camp Cooke
    • 140th Italian Quartermaster Service Company
    • 142nd Italian Quartermaster Service Company
  • Camp Haan
    • 3rd Italian Quartermaster Service Company
  • Imperial Dam Engineer Station
    • 2nd Italian Engineer General Service Regiment (less 2nd Battalion)
  • Camp Joseph T. Knight
    • 7th Italian Quartermaster Service Company
    • 19th Italian Quartermaster Service Company
    • 20th Italian Quartermaster Service Company
    • 21st Italian Quartermaster Service Company
    • 22nd Italian Quartermaster Service Company
    • 23rd Italian Quartermaster Service Company
    • 24th Italian Quartermaster Service Company (detailed to Fort McDowell)
    • 300th Italian Quartermaster Battalion
      • Headquarters Detachment
      • Medical Detachment
    • 301st Italian Quartermaster Battalion
      • Headquarters Detachment
      • Medical Detachment
  • Lathrop Engineer Depot
    • 100th Italian Engineer Base Depot Company
    • 102nd Italian Engineer Base Depot Company
  • Mira Loma Quartermaster Depot
    • 150th Italian Quartermaster Service Company
    • 151st Italian Quartermaster Service Company
    • 152nd Italian Quartermaster Service Company
    • 153rd Italian Quartermaster Service Company
    • 314th Italian Quartermaster Battalion
      • Headquarters Detachment
      • Medical Detachment
  • Fort Ord
    • 132nd Italian Quartermaster Service Company
    • 133rd Italian Quartermaster Service Company
  • Pomona Ordnance Depot
    • 2nd Italian Quartermaster Service Company
    • 9th Italian Ordnance Medium Automotive Maintenance Company
  • Camp Roberts
    • 10th Italian Quartermaster Service Company
  • Camp Ross
    • 11th Italian Quartermaster Service Company
    • 26th Italian Quartermaster Service Company
    • 27th Italian Quartermaster Service Company
    • 127th Italian Quartermaster Service Company
    • 128th Italian Quartermaster Service Company
    • 302nd Italian Quartermaster Battalion
      • Headquarters Detachment
      • Medical Detachment
  • San Bernardino Engineer Depot
    • 101st Italian Engineer Base Depot Company
    • 106th Italian Engineer Base Depot Company
    • 318th Italian Quartermaster Battalion
      • Headquarters Detachment
      • Medical Detachment
  • Presidio of San Francisco
    • 138th Italian Quartermaster Service Company
    • 141st Italian Quartermaster Service Company
  • Camp San Luis Obispo
    • 15th Italian Ordnance Medium Maintenance Company
    • 27th Italian Ordnance Heavy Maintenance Company
  • Sierra Ordnance Depot
    • 68th Italian Quartermaster Service Company
    • 119th Italian Quartermaster Service Company
  • Camp Stoneman
    • 18th Italian Quartermaster Service Company
  • Yermo Holding and Reconsignment Point
    • 129th Italian Quartermaster Service Company
    • 130th Italian Quartermaster Service Company
    • 131st Italian Quartermaster Service Company
      Bibliography

    Lewis, George G. and John Mewha, History of Prisoner of War Utilization by the United States Army, 1776-1945 Fascim. ed., 1982, 1988. Washington, D.C. : Center of Military History, U.S. Army (SuDoc D114.19/3:P93)

    Geiger, Jeffrey E., German Prisoners of War at Camp Cooke, California: Personal Accounts of 14 soldiers, 1944-1946 Jefferson, N.C. : McFarland & Co., c1996.

    Enemy Prisoners of War in the United States from Statistical Review: World War II. Appendix K Army Service Forces, War Department (this document is in SJVIS files, and was also obtained from the U.S. Army Military History Institute)

    Leonard, Gerald Burke, US Army Installations of World War II: Ninth Service Command, 2019, Channel Islands Harbor, Haywood Beach Publishing.

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    German Prisoners Of World War 2

     

     
     
     
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    Updated 23 July 2019