Back for one more pass at Bolsa Chica in Huntington Beach. During WWII, the Bolsa Chica Gun Club's land became part of our nation's coastal defense. Bunkers were built on the ridge behind the old clubhouse, and the area was dotted with large gun emplacements. The photo above by Doug McIntosh shows one of the bunkers being demolished in 1994. The image below shows the area from the air in 1954. 
The most noticable extant features of the WWII era at Bolsa Chica are the round concrete gun emplacements along the edge of the bluff. (Not shown in this photo.) These were never actually fitted with guns. The contractors didn't build them to the military's specifications. Ironically, these "rejects" are the once piece of this defense outpost that still stands today..
Sorry I didn't get a chance to post over the holiday. As always -- many, many thanks to our veterans.
I am sorry that this WWII feature was destroyed. As more & more of the WWII generation passes on, I feel we need visible physical reminders to help us keep the past in focus.
ReplyDeleteAgreed.
ReplyDeleteI remember these bunkers in the 1980s, when the entrances were mostly filled in with dirt to discourage shenanigans. Even partly obscured, they were a fascinating reminder of a time when we feared attack by the Japanese. For us youngsters, it helped make a historical abstraction much more real.
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ReplyDeleteHere are some photos of the "Panama" style gun mounts at Bolsa Chica
ReplyDeletehttp://www.ftmac.org/BolsaChicaPanama.htm
Not in OC, but I think the best WWII preserved sites are in White's Point Nature Preserve in San Pedro
http://www.pvplc.org/land/white_point/
I've been to the Gun Emplacements at White Point Nature Preserve which are IMPRESSIVE structures! (see photo 2)
http://www.pvplc.org/land/white_point/photos.shtml
Preservation Projects at Whites Point
http://www.ftmac.org/WhitesPoint.htm
What Do Base Ends Stations Look Like?
http://www.ftmac.org/BESLook.htm
However, for my parents and their family WWII was spent living in a Relocation Center
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Japanese_American_internment
Granda (aka Amache) Relocation Center in CO (my Mom's family)
http://www.amache.org/
Poston Relocation Center in AZ (my Dad's family)
http://parentseyes.arizona.edu/wracamps/
I agree with Doug "we need visible physical reminders to help us keep the past in focus."
The best preserved Relocation Center is in CA!
Manzanar National Historic Site
http://www.nps.gov/manz/index.htm
Wow! Thanks for all the interesting and educational links!
ReplyDeleteWhen I was a kid I used to explore a gun emplacement that I believe was located in Seal Beach, CA. At the time it was located right in the middle of an oil well field. Had to climb the fence and sneak in to the sight and keep hidden from the oil field workers. As I recall most of it was underground except for the opening for two gun turrets. It seemed quite large at the time. Anyone have any info about this gun emplacement? Phil
ReplyDeleteI remember before the city fire department closed off the opening to the WWII bunker, a few friends and I shoveled out the dirt from the entrance and climbed down. There was nothing like that bunker, it was a piece of history preserved in our own backyard. I was a huge proponent that they should turn it into a museum.. bummer that it didn't happen.
ReplyDelete