Camp Pilot Knob, California
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The smallest of the DTC divisional camps, Pilot
Knob was located approximately five miles northwest of Yuma in the far
southeastern corner of California's Imperial County. Construction of the
camp began in January of 1943 and was completed by April. The entire
camp consisted of 4,000 acres, but the living area was restricted to
approximately 700 acres in the southern portion of the camp close to the
railroad tracks. The northern portion of the camp had four
live-fire gun ranges and infiltration courses. The only structures were
pyramidal wood frame tents, latrines and showers. It is unknown which
units were stationed at Camp Pilot Knob, but records indicate the 85th
Infantry Division, 54th Evacuation Hospital, and 36th and 44th
Reconnaissance Squadrons were there. The camp was closed in June
of 1944.  The
85th Infantry Division "Custer Division" was stationed at Camp Pilot
Knob from June-August of 1943, before moving to Camp Coxcomb where it
stayed until September. In April of 1944, the 85th saw action in Italy
when the division found the Germans near the Gustav Line. Fighting took
the division to Anzio where it helped to open the beachhead, and then
drove towards Rome where it entered the city in June, 1944. The division
spent the remainder of the war fighting northwards and ended in Belluno
when the Germans surrendered. |
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| A monument marker for Camp Pilot Knob. | A close-up of the plaque. |
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| Trash/ debris at the old camp. | A pile of rusted cans. |
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| A rock formation; perhaps a unit marker. | Another view |
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| One of the main camp roads. | Tent areas. |
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| Tents once stood in the rock-lined squares. | Two tent locations. |
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| Rock-lined street with tent entry. | An old tobacco can. |