Existing comment:
With the approach of World War II, the Miramar area underwent renovation. Camp Elliott now also became home to the 2nd Marine Division, whose job it was to defend the California coast. Runways were constructed in 1940, and the 1st Marine Air Wing arrived before the end of that year.
The Navy commissioned Naval Auxiliary Air Station (NAAS) Camp Kearny in February 1943, to train crews for the Consolidated PB4Y Privateer, the naval variant of the B-24 Liberator, which was built less than 10 miles away in San Diego. A month later, the Marines established Marine Corps Air Depot Camp Kearny, later renamed Marine Corps Air Depot Miramar, to avoid confusion with the Navy facility.
The big Privateers proved too heavy for the runway the Army had installed in 1936 and the longer runways built in 1940, so the Navy added two concrete runways in 1943.
In 1942, thirty members of the Navajo tribe from Arizona and New Mexico arrived at Camp Elliott to train as "code-talkers" for the Marines. After their basic training, they moved on to Camp Pendleton, and then to illustrious service in the campaigns in the South Pacific. Military records from the Navajo's training days state that "nothing was too tough for them."
During the 1940s, both the Navy and the Marine Corps occupied Miramar. East Miramar (Camp Elliott) was used to train Marine artillery and armored personnel, while Navy and Marine Corps pilots trained on the western side. The bases were combined and designated Marine Corps Air Station Miramar in 1945. |