Camp Ibis, California
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Located 15 miles northwest of Needles, California, Camp Ibis was constructed in the winter of 1942-1943 just north of the Southern Pacific Railroad along Highway 95. Built as an armored divisional training camp, it was occupied by the 4th Armored Division from November-June 1943; the 9th Armored Division from July-October 1943 & the 11th Armored Division from October-March 1944. Facilities at Camp Ibis included: Thousands of 6-man pyramidal tents, 28 enlisted men's shower buildings, 14 officers shower buildings, 173 latrines, 234 wood-frames tents and 23 machine gun/ tank/ grenade ranges. Water was supplied to the camp by 2 deep wells and stored in a 50,000 gallon elevated tank and a 500,000 concrete reservoir. The camp also had a 4,500 foot long runway on the west side of Highway 95. The camp was closed in April, 1944. Today, many remnants of the old camp exist including unit insignia, rock-lined streets and walkways and the 500,000 gallon water reservoir. |
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| From the photo album of a 9th Armored Division soldier, 1943. Copyrighted Photo | Same view today. |
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| Company street of the 4th Armored Division, 1943. Copyrighted Photo | Same view today. |
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| Soldier with the 9th Armored Division, 89th Cavalry Recon Squadron doing laundry, 1943. Copyrighted Photo | Rock-lined tent area. |
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| Drone photo of the camp's headquarters area. | Drone photo of headquarters area showing a star made of quartz rocks. |
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| A close-up of the star. | Drone photo showing the roads of the overgrown camp. |
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| Drone photo of the camp's overgrown airstrip. | Close-up of the camp's runway. |
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| Drne photo of the camp's 500,000 gallon water reservoir. | The camp's water reservoir is 10 feet deep. |
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| The trench at the bottom was likely a silt trap. | A spillway if the reservoir got too full. |
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| Unit insignia for the 81st Medical Battalion. | A designated street for 'Company A'. |
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| Old beer bottles still litter the site. | An old company street long washed away. |
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| Rock-lined walkways and tent areas. |
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| Another washed out company street. | An insignia. |