Felicity in Imperial County, California — The American West (Pacific Coastal)

Site of Camp Pilot Knob

Photographed by Craig Baker, 2017

1. Site of Camp Pilot Knob Marker

Inscription. Camp Pilot Knob was a unit of the Desert Training Center, established by General George S. Patton Jr., to prepare American troops for battle during World War II. It was the largest military training ground ever to exist. At the peak of activity here at Pilot Knob, June - December, 1943, the 85th Infantry Division, and the 36th and 44th Reconnaissance Squadrons of the 11th (Mechanized) Cavalry trained for roles in the liberation of Europe, 1944-45.

Erected 1990 by State Department of Parks and Recreation in cooperation with the Bureau of Land Management and John P. Squibob Chapter No. 1853, E Clampus Vitus. (Marker Number 985.)

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Military • War, World II. In addition, it is included in the California Historical Landmarks, the Desert Training Center, and the E Clampus Vitus series lists. A significant historical month for this entry is December 1943.

Location. 32° 45.057′ N, 114° 45.288′ W. Marker is in Felicity, California, in Imperial County. It is at the intersection of Sidewinder Road North and Tucker Road, on the right when traveling south on Sidewinder Road North. Access to Sidewinder Road is from I-8 using Exit 164. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Winterhaven CA 92283, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in California’s Imperial Valley.

It is also in the American Southwest.

Globally, it is in North America,

on the Ring of Fire,

in the Pacific Rim,

in the Western Hemisphere,

in the Western World,

and in the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once New Spain

and also Mexico’s Alta California.

Other nearby markers.

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At least 8 other markers are within 8 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies: The Island of California (approx. 0.6 miles away); Hernando De Alarcon Expedition - 1540 (approx. 2.4 miles away); Mormon Battalion Crossing / Colorado River Crossing (approx. 3.3 miles away in Arizona); U.S. Army of the West — Mormon Battalion (approx. 6½ miles away in Arizona); Immaculate Conception Parish (approx. 6½ miles away in Arizona); Obregon (approx. 6.7 miles away); Sand Sea (approx. 7.6 miles away); Yuma Crossing (approx. 7.8 miles away in Arizona).

Also see . . . Historic California Posts: Camp Pilot Knob. (Submitted on December 30, 2011, by Michael Kindig of Elk Grove, California.)

Photographed by Michael Kindig, March 22, 2008

2. Site of Camp Pilot Knob Marker

Photographed by Michael Kindig, March 22, 2008

3. Site of Camp Pilot Knob Marker

Pilot Knob can be seen in the distance.

Photographed by Bill Kirchner, December 15, 2012

4. Site of Camp Pilot Knob Marker

Original layout of Camp Pilot Knob image. Click for full size.

from BLM 1986:Map 16, June 30, 2000

5. Original layout of Camp Pilot Knob

Credits. This page was last revised on February 13, 2025. It was originally submitted on December 17, 2011, by Michael Kindig of Elk Grove, California. This page has been viewed 2,282 times since then and 60 times this year. Photos: 1. submitted on January 29, 2021, by Craig Baker of Sylmar, California. 2, 3. submitted on December 17, 2011, by Michael Kindig of Elk Grove, California. 4. submitted on December 20, 2012, by Bill Kirchner of Tucson, Arizona. 5. submitted on December 30, 2011, by Michael Kindig of Elk Grove, California. • Syd Whittle was the editor who published this page.