Bradenton in Manatee County, Florida — The American South (South Atlantic)

Camp Weatherford

Photographed by Tim Fillmon, March 29, 2017

1. Camp Weatherford Marker Side 1

Inscription. (side 1)
With baseball suspended for the duration of WWII, present-day McKechnie Field was closed between 1941-48 and taken over by the U.S. Army and named Camp Bradenton. Under command of Maj. Joseph H. Dunlap, it was designated a Signal Corps basic training facility and substation of Drew Field, Tampa. First troops arrived March 27, 1942. City Annex is where headquarters stood. Name was changed to Camp Weatherford in April 1943 in honor of Pfc. Willie M. Weatherford of Miami who was killed in the Philippines during WWII. Maj. Louis A. Cary became the commanding officer. (Continued on reverse side) (side 2) (Continued from other side) Troops were housed in tents and used existing buildings for the mess hall and classrooms. On April 1, 1943, the 740th Signal Aircraft Warning Company was activated at Drew Field with a cadre of 37. They moved here with 300 enlisted men and officers on July 6, 1943. Arriving in New Guinea in April 1944, this unit was assigned to and became Company A of the 596th S.A.W. Bn. and later served in the Philippines and Okinawa. Marker dedicated June 17, 1993 on the 50th anniversary of the 740th and 18th reunion of the 596th by Ernest Roy Singleton, Jr., chairman.

Erected by Manatee

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County Historical Society in cooperation with City of Bradenton, 740th S.A.W. Co., Janet B. Hampton, Barclay S. Horney and the Weatherford Family Association.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Sports • War, World II. A significant historical date for this entry is March 27, 1942.

Location. 27° 29.247′ N, 82° 34.27′ W. Marker is in Bradenton, Florida, in Manatee County. It is on 9th Street West south of 13th Avenue West, on the right when traveling north. Marker is located in front of the Bradenton Public Works. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 1411 9th St West, Bradenton FL 34205, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is on Florida’s Gulf Coast

and on Tampa Bay.

It is also in the American South

and on the Gulf Coast.

Globally, it is in the North Atlantic Region,

North America,

a Gulf of Mexico state,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once New Spain,

the territory of the Mississippian Culture,

one of the Confederate States of America,

and the Antebellum South.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: Bradenton Nine Devils (approx. 0.2 miles away); William Boyd McKechnie (approx. 0.2 miles away); Bradenton General Hospital (approx. 0.4 miles away); Major Adams Cemetery (approx. half a mile away); Lincoln High School (approx. half a mile away); The Honorable R.B. "Chips" Shore Courthouse Grounds (approx. half a mile away); Courthouse Square (approx. 0.6 miles away); Bradentown Depot (approx. 0.6 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Bradenton.

Camp Weatherford Marker Side 2 image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Tim Fillmon, March 29, 2017

2. Camp Weatherford Marker Side 2

Camp Weatherford Marker and Bradenton Public Works building image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Tim Fillmon, March 29, 2017

3. Camp Weatherford Marker and Bradenton Public Works building

Credits. This page was last revised on April 4, 2017. It was originally submitted on April 3, 2017, by Tim Fillmon of Webster, Florida. This page has been viewed 1,268 times since then and 45 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on April 3, 2017, by Tim Fillmon of Webster, Florida. • Bernard Fisher was the editor who published this page.