Historic California Posts, Camps, Stations and Airfield

Jenner Bombing Target No. 29

 

 

 

The Navy built Jenner 12th Naval District Target No. 29 as one of over thirty bombing and rocket targets within the 12th Naval District in California and Nevada during World War II. Target No. 29 was directly associated with Naval Auxiliary Air Station (NAAS) Santa Rosa, which was approximately 20 miles to the east. NAAS Santa Rosa was one of a dozen subordinate NAAS and Naval Air Station (NAS) activities under the 12th Naval District, Naval Air Bases at NAS Alameda. The 12th Naval District officially established NAAS Santa Rosa on 29 June 1943, a year and a half prior to acquisition of Target No.29. NAAS Santa Rosa had a total of three subordinate range activities, including divebombing and rocket targets:

 

• Petaluma 12th Naval District Target No. 9
• Jenner 12th Naval District Target No. 29
• Stewart’s Point 12th Naval District Target No. 30

 

Before acquiring the property for the Jenner bomb target, the Navy received approval from the Interdepartmental Air Traffic Control Board (IATCB) for the target location at N38°26' 00", W123°07' 00” on 26 July 1944 (though given to the second, the coordinates are an approximation). Although the 1.5-mile radius Danger Area for this site was published on Aeronautical Charts as early as 7 December 1944, the Navy had not received real estate rights to the site. By the 14th, the “targets for this site have been constructed and the area is now suitably improved for use” and condemnation proceedings were requested for the Navy to take immediate possession of the land. The Navy acquired leases for the two parcels of land on 29 December 1944.

Although aligned with NAAS Santa Rosa, the bomb and rocket targets within the 12th Naval District appear to have been available for use by the dozens of subordinate activities under the Naval District command along with the Army.

The research found no documentation in regards to specifics of the layout for Target No. 29, though a site map shows it to be a single circular target. Typical 12th Naval District dive bombing targets on land were suppose to consist of a 250 foot cleared area, with an interior 50 foot radius, 4 foot wide, wooden plank circle. The target center was to be a 12-foot square platform with a 3-foot diameter bull’s eye. A typical dive-bombing target might also have additional markings along the two axes in line with rake stations, thoughit appears that Target 29 did not have rake stations. The aerial photo analysis confirmed this general layout.

Following the end of the war, NAAS Santa Rosa remained in service. As of 8 January 1946, the Navy planned on temporarily retaining Target No. 29. It remained in use by units from NAS Alameda and NAAS Santa Rosa through February and had a tentative release date of 30 June. However, both leases for the property were terminated on 1 March 1946, prior to the lease expiration. The entire site eventually became part of the Sonoma Coast State Beaches state park in the Russian River/Mendocino District.

 

 

Naval Air Station Alameda Maps

Acquisition Map

 

 

 

Bombing Range Map

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Updated 8 February 2016