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General Patton Memorial Museum


Statue of General Patton at the museum entrance




General George S. Patton Jr.


Lifesize figure of Gen. Patton
Lifesize figure of Gen. Patton
photograph of Gen. Patton
photo of Gen. Patton
bronze bust and photograph of Gen. Patton
bust and photo of Gen. Patton



Museum Displays


replica of Patton's revolver
THE GENERAL PATTON
LIMITED EDITION
COMMEMORATIVE REVOLVER
EXACT REPLICA
CALIBER .45L COLT
STERLING SILVER PLATE
LOANED TO THE MUSEUM
BY
JERRY RUSCHE




video area
video area
display cases
display cases

bazooka and small arms
bazooka and small arms
small arms
small arms

Desert Training Center display Desert Training Center display
Desert Training Center displays
Desert Training Center display






Desert Training Center plaque
DESERT TRAINING CENTER
CALIFORNIA - ARIZONA
MANUEUVER AREA

THE D.T.C. WAS ESTABLISHED BY MAJOR GENERAL
GEORGE S. PATTON, JR., IN RESPONSE TO A NEED TO TRAIN
AMERICAN COMBAT TROOPS FOR BATTLE IN NORTH
AFRICA DURING WORLD WAR II. THE CAMP, WHICH BEGAN
OPERATION IN 1942, COVERED 18,000 SQUARE MILES.
IT WAS THE LARGEST MILITARY TRAINING GROUND
EVER TO EXIST. OVER ONE MILLION MEN WERE TRAINED
AT THE ELEVEN SUB-CAMPS (SEVEN IN CALIFORNIA).
CALIFORNIA REGISTERED HISTORICAL LANDMARK NO. 985
PLAQUE PLACED BY THE STATE DEPARTMENT OF PARKS
AND RECREATION IN COOPERATION WITH THE GENERAL
PATTON MEMORIAL MUSEUM AND THE BUREAU OF LAND
MANAGEMENT, NOVEMBER 11, 1989.




Armour Displays


Outdoor armour display

The museum has a nice collection of over a dozen armoured vehicles. There are 5 types of tanks on display, with the majority being varieties of the M47 and M48 "Patton" tanks. There is another fenced-off area nearby that contains 5 or 6 additional tanks in varying stages of repair.



M5A1 "General Stuart" light tank


M5A1 Stuart

M5A1 Stuart M5A1 Stuart

M5A1 Stuart M47 Patton with M5A1 Stuart



M4 "Sherman" medium tank


M4 Sherman M4 Sherman

M4 Sherman M4 Sherman

M4 Sherman M4 Sherman



M26A1 "Pershing" medium tank


M26A1 Pershing tank

M26A1 Pershing tank M26A1 Pershing tank




M47 "Patton" medium tank


M47 Patton

M47 Patton M47 Patton

M47 Patton

M47 Patton M47 Patton



M60A1 tank M60A1 tank
M60A1 tank M60A1 tank

M60A1 tank, with M47 in background



M578 Light Armored Recovery Vehicle


M578 Light Armored Recovery Vehicle

M578 Light Armored Recovery Vehicle M578 Light Armored Recovery Vehicle




Desert Training Center Memorial


Desert Training Center Memorial Desert Training Center Memorial


THE DESERT TRAINING CENTER

* CAMP YOUNG *

Maj. Gen. George S. Patton Jr., U.S. Army, selected Camp Young as headquarters site for the Desert Training Center in March 1942. Camp Young was the administrative center for a simulated theater of operations that would eventually extend from Pomona, CA, to Phoenix, AZ, from Yuma, AZ, to Boulder City, NV, and would include a network of training facilities at Camps Clipper, Coxcomb, Granite, Ibis, Iron Mountain and Pilot Knob in California, and Camps Bouse, Horn, Hyder and Laguna in Arizona.

Between 1942 and 1944, over one million men trained on the surrounding desert and participated in the most realistic war games under the harshest conditions imaginable. In a very important sense, many battles of World War II were won on these desert lands during those maneuvers.

This memorial is dedicated to the soldiers of the U.S. Army who participated in these events. The spirit which they displayed generated a spark that spread into every overseas theater in which they served.



Camp Young Memorial Desert Training Center map

LT. GEN. SAMUEL B.M. YOUNG

JANUARY 9, 1840 - SEPTEMBER 2, 1924


THE DESERT TRAINING CENTER HEADQUARTERS WAS NAMED IN HONOR OF
LT. GEN. SAMUEL B.M. YOUNG ON MAY 12, 1942. AS A CAPTAIN HE SERVED
WITH DISTINCTION WITH THE ARMY OF THE POTOMAC AND LATER WITH
THE 8TH CAVALRY ALONG THE MOJAVE ROAD IN CALIFORNIA AND
ARIZONA. HE COMMANEDED A BRIGADE DURING THE SPANISH-AMERICAN
WAR IN CUBA AND LATER IN THE PHILIPPINE ISLANDS WHERE HE WAS
APPOINTED MILITARY GOVERNOR OF NORTHWEST LUZON. IN 1901 HE WAS
NAMED PRESIDENT OF THE WAR COLLEGE BOARD AND WENT ON TO SERVE
AS THE FIRST PRESIDENT OF THE ARMY WAR COLLEGE.
IN 1903 HE WAS APPOINTED THE FIRST CHIEF OF STAFF OF THE ARMY,
A POSITION HE HELD UNTIL HIS RETIREMENT IN 1904.





Camp Young Airstrip

The Camp Young Airstrip is located just east of the Patton Museum.


Camp Young Airstrip

CAMP YOUNG AIRSTRIP
CAMP YOUNG - HEADQUARTERS
DESERT TRAINING CENTER
CALIFORNIA - ARIZONA MANEUVER AREA

THE CAMP YOUNG AIRSTRIP WAS ESTABLISHED AT THIS SITE IN MARCH 1942 BY ORDER OF GENERAL GEORGE S. PATTON. IT WAS USED TO PROVIDE CAMP YOUNG WITH SUPPLIES AND OTHER ESSENTIAL MATERIAL. IT SUPPORTED AIR TRANSPORTATION FOR THE COMMAND STAFF OF THE DESERT TRAINING CENTER. GENERAL PATTON ALSO HAD HIS PERSONAL AIRPLANE STATIONED HERE. THE FIELD WAS 6000' LONG AND 300' WIDE. IT WAS CAPABLE OF HANDLING C-47 SKYTRAINS, C-46 AIR COMMANDOS, AND C-54 SKYMASTERS. THE GENERAL SERVICE AGENCY DEEDED THE STRIP TO THE COUNTY OF RIVERSIDE ON JUNE 2, 1948.

THIS MONUMENT IS DEDICATED TO THOSE AMERICAN SOLDIERS WHO TRAINED HERE AND WHO GAVE THEIR LIVES IN THE VICTORY OVER IMPERIAL JAPAN AND NAZI GERMANY, AND IN ENDING THE HOLOCAUST.

PLAQUE PLACED BY THE BILLY HOLCOMB CHAPTER OF THE
ANCIENT AND HONORABLE ORDER OF E CLAMPUS VITUS
IN COOPERATION WITH THE PATTON MUSEUM
VETERANS DAY, NOVEMBER 11, 2001




The General Patton Memorial Museum is located about 30 miles east of Indio off Interstate 10. Take the Chiriaco Summit offramp. The museum is on the north side of the freeway. See map.



Historic Photos of the Desert Training Center

The following photos were donated in memory of Harold Duglin who served as a Staff Sergeant in the United States Army during World War II. The photos below (with the exception of the top-left photo) were taken during the time he was stationed at the Desert Training Center.

WWII photo of the Harold Duglin WWII photo of the Desert Training Center WWII photo of the Desert Training Center

WWII photo of the Desert Training Center WWII photo of the Desert Training Center

WWII photo of the Desert Training Center WWII photo of the Desert Training Center





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