Historic California Posts, Camps,
Stations and Airfields
Culver City Army Air Forces Motion
Picture Unit
(Hal Roach Studio, Fort Roach,
Pacific Military Academy)
Headquarters, First
Motion Picture Unit, Culver City
US Army Corps
of Engineers History
The US Army Air Forces acquired about
13.6 acres from Hal Roach Studios Inc. The The Army Air Forces
began using the Studios on 25 September and acquired the site
formally by lease agreement on 5 October 1942. Records were neither
complete nor specific. The site was located at 8822 West Washington
Boulevard in Culver City.
The property was used by the Army Air Forces, as acquired, to
create military training films. The lease agreement included
all film making equipment and facilities associated with the
Hal Roach Studios in Culver City, California. Known facility
improvements were limited to conversion of certain studio buildings
(e.g., production building, plaster shop, costume department,
etc.) to accommodate living quarters for personnel of the First Motion Picture Unit (FMPU). These
included 6 barracks, 1 lavatory, 1 mess (kitchen), and 1 day
room. A September 1942 War Department layout plan of the FMPU
facilities indicates that two heating oil tanks were located
on site, one of which may have been installed by the Army Air
Forces. Other alterations to the studios were limited to internal
building modifications to accommodate specific needs for the
production of the training films.
The lease for about 13.6 acres and all facilities was terminated
in approximately October of 1945 following the end of WWII. Official
disposal records were not available. Hal Roach Studios was torn
down in 1963 and redeveloped to what is currently known as the
Landmark Industrial Tract which contains car dealerships, industrial
warehouses, and office space. No War Department improvements
remain on the site.
Source: Los Angeles District,
US Army Corps of Engineers
Captain Ronald Reagan,
Adjutant, First Montion Picture Unit
Army Units
Assigned to Hal Roach Studios
Data Source
Date(s)
Unit(s)
Army
of the United States Station List
1
June 1943
1st Motion Picture Unit (AAF)
1st Combat Camera Unit (AAF)
2nd Combat Camera Unit (AAF)
3rd Combat Camera Unit (AAF)
4th Combat Camera Unit (AAF)
6th Combat Camera Unit (AAF)
7th Combat Camera Unit (AAF)
11th Combat Camera Unit (AAF)
14th Combat Camera Unit (AAF)
15th Combat Camera Unit (AAF)
16th Combat Camera Unit (AAF)
Army
of the United States Station List
7
April 1945
13th Combat Camera Unit (AAF)
18th Army Air Forces Base Unit
(Motion Picture Unit) (AAF)
38th Army Air Forces Base Unit
(1st Radio Unit) (AAF)
AAF - Army Air Forces
units | AGF - Army Ground Forces unit | ASF - Army Service Forces
units | WDC - Western Defense Command
Extract, War
Department Inventory of Owned, Sponsored and Leased Facilities,
December 1945
Culver City Army Air Forces
Motion Picture Unit
Capacity:
Enlisted:
Permanent: 443
(Located at the Pacific Military Academy)
Mobilization (Quartermaster Corps 700-Series
or Corps of Engineers 800-Series):
Theater of Operations: 193
Hutments:
Tents:,
Total:
636
Officers:
Station Hospital:
Acreage
Owned:
Leases: 21
Acres (18 leases)
Total: 21
Acres
Storage:
Ammunition Igloos and Magazines:
Covered:
Heated:
Unheated:
Total:
Sheds:
Open:
Surfaced:
Unsurfaced:
Total:
Total Storage Capacity:
Cost to Government Since 1 July 1940:
Annual Lease Payment(s): $148,678.00
Land Purchase:
Construction:
$166,022.00
Total (Less Lease Payments): $166,022.00
Remarks:
Lease property includes the the Pacific Military Academy boarding
school. Declared surplus 31 December 1945.
The Pacific
Military Academy
The former Pacific
Military Academy, circa 1952. The school was renamed Chevoit
Hills Military Academy when the Army vacated the site. Note that
at least one Theater of Operations type of building was still
on the site of the school (Wikipedia).
This Florentine structure, designed by
noted architect Wallace Neff, was originally built in 1929 as
the Pacific Military Academy by Culver City Founder, Harry Culver.
At the beginning of World War II, the building served as military
barracks for the Army's First Motion Picture Unit. This Army
unit used the Hal Roach Studios also located in Culver City.
There is film footage still in existence which shows young officer
Ronald Reagan lined up for lunch at the cafeteria in the basement
of the main building.
