World War II on the Tarzana Ranch

World War II on the Tarzana Ranch. . , The attached wood is from an original piece of the U.S. Army's Radio Shack from the Tarzana Army Camp, which was located in its entirety on the Tarzana Ranch from February 1942 through November 1944. The Camp was the little-known Hqtrs. Coastal Defense Command, which was maintained on "The Hill" (aka "The Knoll"), at 18500 Tarzana Drive. The building that stands today, although highly modified, has buried within its walls the original Garage, Writing Quarters, and Theater that Edgar Rice Burroughs (ERB), author of "Tarzan of the Apes" and many other novels that resulted in motion pictures, personally supervised construction of during 1920. , The Tarzana Army Camp additionally contained many buildings constructed in part from packing crate material -- the first mass recycling during the War years that contained Searchlights, Anti-Aircraft Guns, Ammunition, Equipment, Food and other supplies necessary to operate a camp of this size and nature. One of the primary buildings was the Radio Shack, which was located approximately seventy-five feet east of the ERB-constructed swimming pool that also exists today. The Radio Shack was the primary communication center for the Headquarters, and maintained communications with units on offshore islands and military installations throughout the U.S. There are interesting stories associated with the Radio Shack based on use and discoveries made many years later hidden within its walls. The Radio Shack was photographically documented before dismantling during the 1990's with all useable materials saved and stored. , The Tarzana Army Camp additionally contained a vehicle maintenance facility utilizing the one-hundred and twenty foot long drive-through, solid redwood horse barn, and two-story high hay barn, formerly located where the present day parking lot is for El Caballero Country Club. Where the current clubhouse buildings stand was the underground food storage facility for fresh vegetables, fruits, and meats. Nearby to the South approximately one-hundred yards was a high security POW and detainment facility with guard towers, lighting and multiple barbed wire fences. German and Italian POWs were occasionally held over at the facility awaiting transport to the Goleta area where large scale internment facilities existed. To the West of the POW facility was the weapons live firing range with underground target pull facilities, utilizing the side of the hill as a backstop for the bullets, where the "Hermano Drive" (formerly "Herman Drive") development exists today. Further to the South and located within the Historic Olive Grove planted by General Harrison Gray Otis (former publisher of the Los Angeles Times and Mirror Newspapers), were the Searchlight and Anti-aircraft Battalions that gained fame during the evening of February 24, 1942. The event was the controversial story of the reported Japanese Reconnaissance Float Plane that flew over the Valley from West to East and headed towards Hollywood. The plane was observed by hundreds of people including our entire family, watching an outdoor movie at Reseda Park when the Air Raid Warning sounded: all lights went out, the searchlights came on and located the aircraft, and the firing began. The explosions from Anti-Aircraft shells were following the aircraft as it flew out of sight to the East. Newspapers reported cars damaged by shell fragments that were parked in the streets in North Hollywood. Other reports and there are conflicting ones stated that several people were killed by shell fragments, while others died from heart attacks. At the time, I was six years old, and my brother was 13. Although I felt I only got a glimpse of what was an airplane while looking towards the West before all the firing began causing smoke, my brother claims that he saw the wings of an airplane and identified floats on it. It was definitely not a weather balloon and based on our later experiences as pilots, it had to be traveling in excess of one-hundred miles per hour. , Additionally, and under high security, was what we believe was the first Radar installation on the West Coast, which was located somewhere between the former sheep pastures south of the knoll and the present day 18th hole of the El Caballero Country Club. The installation was to protect the Valley and its aviation industry from attack. , The additional artifacts attached to this special numbered memorabilia, are from the following: The portion of copper window screen and frame is from the ERB Writing Quarters, Garage and Theater building, removed in preparation of remodeling in 1959 by this author. The attached square steel rebar is from what was known as the "Caretakers House" at formerly 4970 Mecca Avenue (South of Tarzana Drive), which was constructed by General Harrison Gray Otis during the 1911-1913 era. This structure no longer exists and the square rebar was salvaged from some of the demolition material. , The above historical information is true and accurate, to the best of my knowledge. Ralph J. Herman, Sr., Managing General Partner, Herman Properties, (formerly Herman Properties, Inc.) and owners of the majority of the 550 acre Tarzana Ranch, August 1943 to present. , Certified: August 24, 2012. No. 33. Initialed: Ralph J. Herman, Sr.