The Navy Department transferred 0.01 acre
located at the Marine Corps Recruit Depot to the War Department
by means of a temporary revocable permit dated 16 February 1943.
The site was used as a gun emplacement tower for a 40rnm antiaircraft
gun. On 11 April 1949, the temporary revocable permit was terminated.
The site is currently owned and occupied by the United States
Marine Corps.
Source: US Army Corps of
Engineers Los Angeles History (1989)
Tower No. 2
Location: The site is located on the south corner of the
intersection of Lytton Street and Rosecrans Street, in the city
of San Diego,
Site History: The War Department acquired the site (0.01
acre) from the Navy Department for the Army by use permit dated
11 February 1943. The site was used as a gun site for a 40rnm
gun by the 33rd Coast Artillery Brigade. The site was declared
surplus on 8 .July 1944. The 'Use Permit' was canceled and the
site was transferred back to the Navy on 6 January 1945.
Source: US Army Corps of
Engineers Los Angeles History (1988)
Tower No. 3
Finding of Facts: The War Department acquired approximately 7 acres
by lease contract executed 15 August 1942. Subsequent to this
lease contract, the 7-acre property was acquired in fee by the
Federal Public Housing Authority (FPHA) , and it was determined
that only 0.06 acres were needed for use as a "gun position."
It was recommended that the lease contract be canceled. On 9
August 1944, the Army Air Forces obtained a temporary use permit
for the 0.06-acre gun tower site.
The above-mentioned 7 acres were acquired for use as a gun emplacement
site for San Diego air defense purposes. A gun tower was reportedly
located in a 50' x 50' area within this parcel. This gun tower
was apparently already in use at the time that the temporary
use permit was obtained. Specific information concerning improvements
at this site was not available; however, a typical gun tower
site from this time period likely would have contained an observation
tower that was camouflaged as a water tank, as well as gun emplacements
located at ground level.
The lease contract that was executed in
1942 for 7 acres was presumably canceled sometime prior to 9
August 1944. The 0.06-acre site was declared surplus 22 February
1945, and was relinquished to the FPHA by letter dated 6 June
1945. Currently, the site is owned by the City of San Diego,
and is occupied by the San Diego Sports Arena and surrounding
parking lot.
Location: The
site is located in the City of San Diego, San Diego County, approximately
0.5 mile southwest of the Interstate 5 and Interstate 8 intersection,
and is bounded by Sports Arena Boulevard, Hancock Street, and
Kurtz Street.
Site History: In 1942, The War Department leased approximately
7 acres for use as a gun emplacement site for San Diego air defense
purposes. Subsequently, this acreage was acquired in fee by the
Federal Public Housing Authority (FPHA) , and it was determined
that only 0.06 acres were needed for use as a "gun position."
The lease contract was apparently canceled, and in 1944, the
Army Air Forces obtained a temporary use permit for a 0.06-acre
site. Whether this 0.06 acres was located within, or rather adjacent
to, the 7-acre parcel is not clear. The 0.06-acre site was relinquished
to the FPHA in 1945. Currently, the site is owned by the City
of San Diego, and is occupied by a sports arena and surrounding
parking lot. Inspection of the site bore no evidence of former
military use, nor was any evidence of environmental impairment
observed.
Specific information concerning improvements at this site was
not available; however, a typical gun tower site from this time
period likely would have contained an observation tower that
was camouflaged as a water tank and constructed with 1-inch re-bar.
Gun emplacements were located at ground level near the tower.
According to Alvin Grobmeier, Historian and Commander U.S. Navy,
Retired, sand bag emplacements were probably used at such sites.
He also indicated that with the end of World War II, the towers
were "undoubtedly dismantled on site" and the guns
were probably "removed to storage at the same time."
Source: US Army Corps of
Engineers Los Angeles History (1992)
Tower No. 4
Finding of Facts: The Army Air Forces acquired this 1.69-acre site
from the Federal Public Housing Authority (FPHA) by use permit
dated 10 March 1945.
The Fourth Air Force used this property as a gun emplacement
site for San Diego harbor defense purposes. The site was "vacant
level land" when acquired. Apparently, a gun tower was installed
at this location. Four on site buildings were reportedly sold
at the time of disposal.
This site was declared surplus on 3 August 1945, and was retransferred
to the FPHA effective 18 April 1946. Currently, this property
is owned by the U.S. Government and is the site of a U.s. Post
Office parking lot.
Location:
The site is located in the City of San Diego, on the south side
of Midway Drive near the intersection of Midway Drive and Barnet
Avenue.
Site History: In 1945, the Air Force acquired a use permit
for this site from the Federal Public Housing Authority (FPHA).
This property was vacant when acquired and was used as a gun
emplacement site for San Diego air defense purposes. In 1946,
the site was retransferred to the FPHA. Currently, this property
is owned by the U.S. Government and is the site of a U.S. Post
Office parking lot. During the site survey, no evidence was found
of the former gun tower site, nor was there any visible evidence
of environmental impairment.
Four on site buildings were reportedly sold at the time of disposal.
These buildings may have been used as supply, support, and housing
facilities for the duty crews. No other specific information
concerning improvements at this site was available; however,
a typical gun tower site from this time period likely would have
contained an observation tower that was camouflaged as a water
tank and constructed with 1-inch re-bar. Gun emplacements were
located at ground level near the tower.
According to Alvin Grobmeier, Historian and Commander U.S. Navy,
Retired, sand bag emplacements were probably used at such sites.
He also indicated that with the end of World War II, the towers
were "undoubtedly dismantled on site" and the guns
were probably "removed to storage at the same time."
The FPHA signed a permit release which stated, "The undersigned
hereby releases now and forever, the United States Government
from any and all claims for rental that may have accrued or may
accrue, and any and all other claims it may have or claim arising
out of or incidental to the use and/or occupancy of the property."
Source: US Army Corps of
Engineers Los Angeles History (1992)
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