South Scottsdale in Phoenix in Maricopa County, Arizona — The American Mountains (Southwest)

Papago Park Prisoner of War Camp

Arizona State Library, Archives and Public Records, circa 1985

1. Papago Park Prisoner Of War Camp Marker

Inscription.
From January, 1944, to March, 1946, some 2500 POWs (mostly German Naval personnel) were confined in an isolated complex of barracks and barbed-wire compounds situated north of here along both sides of 64th Street. Twenty-five POWs fled December 23rd and 24th, 1944, through a hand-dug tunnel that exited on the canal bank east of the Sheridan Avenue and 66th Street intersection. Though all eventually were recaptured, this was the greatest escape by Axis prisoners from a U.S. Compound during World War II.

Erected 1984 by Papago Park POW Camp Commemorative Observance Commission, and Arizona Historical Society.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: War, World II. A significant historical month for this entry is January 1944.

Location. Marker has been reported missing. It was located near 33° 28.155′ N, 111° 56.683′ W. Marker was in Phoenix, Arizona, in Maricopa County. It was in South Scottsdale. It could be reached from Walter A, Hass Jr. Way. Marker was at the Papago Softball Complex. Touch for map. Marker was at or near this postal address: 1802 N 64th St, Phoenix AZ 85008, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker was in Arizona’s Sonoran Desert

and in the Tohono O’odham Nation.

It was also in the American Southwest.

Globally, it was in North America,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

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

the Gadsden Purchase,

and Mexico’s Alta California.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 2 miles of this location, measured as the crow flies: Papago Escape Tunnel (approx. half a mile away); How I Came to be Here

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(approx. 1.2 miles away); George W. P. Hunt / Arizona's First Governor (approx. 1.2 miles away); Hunt Bass Hatchery (approx. 1.4 miles away); Papago Park's Military History (approx. 1.4 miles away); Our Lady of Perpetual Help Catholic Church (approx. 2 miles away); Farmers State Bank (approx. 2 miles away); 1921 - Sterling Drug Store (approx. 2 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Phoenix.

More about this marker. The former marker location was determined from photos of the commemorative observance recognizing former German prisoners on January 5, 1985.

Arizona State Library, Archives and Public Records, January 5, 1985

2. Papago Park Prisoner Of War Camp Marker

Ceremony recognizing former German prisoners.

Arizona State Library, Archives and Public Records, January 5, 1985

3. Ceremony recognizing former German prisoners

Arizona State Library, Archives and Public Records, January 5, 1985

4. Ceremony recognizing former German prisoners

Former Location of the Marker image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Bill Kirchner, August 29, 2015

5. Former Location of the Marker

Elks Lodge, 6398 E Oak St., Scottsdale, AZ image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Bill Kirchner, August 29, 2015

6. Elks Lodge, 6398 E Oak St., Scottsdale, AZ

This is the only building remaining from the POW camp. It was the U.S. Army Officer's Club.

Credits. This page was last revised on June 4, 2026. It was originally submitted on August 31, 2015, by Bill Kirchner of Tucson, Arizona. This page has been viewed 4,052 times since then and 220 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6. submitted on August 31, 2015, by Bill Kirchner of Tucson, Arizona.