Historic California Posts, Camps, Stations and Airfields

Camp Walter R. Taliaferro

 

A semi-permanent camp, it was established at San Diego as a Mexican border patrol post on March 31, 1916, by the 1st Battalion, less Company C, 21st Infantry, which arrived from its home base at Vancouver Barracks, Washington. Located on the grounds of the Panama-California International Exposition, the post was named for pioneer aviator 1st Lieutenant Walter R. Taliaferro who was killed in an aviation accident near San Diego on October 11, 1915. A flying field later established at Fort Worth, Texas, was also named for the lieutenant. During World War I, the camp was garrissoned by the 25th (less Company B) and 44th Battalion, US Guards.

 

Source: Encyclopedia of Historic Forts by Robert B. Roberts

 

 

Corps of Engineers History

 

On 31 March 1916, the United States Army occupied City of San Diego property through unknown means for Camp Walter R. Taliaferro. The camp was located in an area of Balboa Park now known as Morley Field and is expected to have occupied an area of approximately 80 acres. However, the exact size and boundaries of the camp are unknown. No formal acquisition records were identified.

 

Camp Taliaferro was established to shelter regular Army troops and as a Mexican border patrol post. The camp was the headquarters for the Army's Southern California Border Patrol District. This was a semi-permanent camp, thus, the Army is not expected to have constructed any permanent facilities. No records were located that describe the number or types of facilities at the camp.

 

The 80-acre CampTaliaferro site is assumed to have been relinquished to the City of San Diego between 1918-1920. No formal transfer records were located. No Army improvements are known to remain on the site. The property is currently owned by the City of San Diego and is developed with numerous recreational sports facilities.

 

Source: Los Angeles District, US Army Corps of Engineers

 

 

The California National Guard at Camp Walter R. Taliaferro

 

Camp of the Provisional Battalion, Coast Artillery Corps, National Guard of California circa 1917 (California Military Department)

 

 

With America's entry into World War I, three California National Guard Coast Artillery Corps companies from Los Angeles County we formed into a provisional battalion and inducted into Federal service at San Diego. As with all Federalized California National Guard units, these units were redesignated to be compatible with units of the Regular Army, Organized Reserves and the National Army (units formed with new enlistees and draftees.). These Coast Artillery Corps companies served in the San Diego area until 1919.

 

 

California National Guard Unit Designation	Home Station	Post-Mobilization Federal Dignation
Provisional Battalion, Coast Artillery Corps, National Guard of California (NGC)	San Diego	Coast Defense Command of San Diego
14th Company, 2nd Coast Defense Command, Coast Artillery Corps, NGC	San Gabriel	8th Company, Coast Defense Command of San Diego
15th Company, 2nd Coast Defense Command, Coast Artillery Corps, NGC	Los Angeles	Headquarters and Headquarters Company, Coast Defense Command of San Diego
17th Company, 2nd Coast Defense Command, Coast Artillery Corps, NGC	Hollywood	6th Company, Coast Defense Command of San Diego

 

Another view of the camp of the Provisional Battalion, Coast Artillery Corps, National Guard of California circa 1917 (California Military Department)

 

 

 

 

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Updated 10 August 2017