California during World War II
After the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941, most of California's manufacturing was shifted to the war effort.
The population grew significantly, largely due to servicemen who were stationed at the new military bases/training facilities and the mass influx of workers from around the U.S. in the growing defense industries.
New military construction projects and the emerging war industries in California brought in tens of thousands of workers from across America.
With the manpower shortage many women entered the workforce in manufacturing and other jobs held by men in the past.
As factories added more shifts, a variety of stores and services increase operating hours.
[46] The largest World War II accident in California was the Port Chicago disaster.
[citation needed][52][53][54] Bob Hope volunteered with the United Service Organizations (USO) and entertained troops during World War II and for decades later (1941 to 1991).
[55] Desi Arnaz was stationed at Birmingham General Army Hospital in Van Nuys, California during the war to entertain the troops there.
[56] Disney famously dedicated a large portion of their business to making propaganda films.
Named after the 1942 Hollywood Victory Caravan, Paramount-produced film promoted bond sales in a 1945, post War.
The short film included Bing Crosby, Bob Hope, Alan Ladd, William Demarest, Franlin Pangborn, Barbara Stanwyck, Humphrey Bogart, and others.
Albert Einstein donated the original copies of his manuscript on the theory of relativity for auction to raise money for war bonds.
After the attacks on California the Coast Guard Auxiliary, became very active in the use of civilian boats and crews for reconnaissance and search-and-rescue.
Towers were built along coastal California, staffed with spotters to look for enemy aircraft working with the Ground Observer Corps.
It was patriotic to avoid all unnecessary travel, to give space needed for troop movement.
The Army had special hospital cars built to move wounded soldiers, one operated out of San Francisco.
[65] Some California universities also had classes for aeronautical engineering, resident inspectors of ordinance and naval material, and a liaison for the National Defense Research Committee.
[75] Veterans started families, that is called the baby boom, birth rates increased in the U.S. and California.
Some of the ships were given to the Allies of World War II through the Lend-Lease act of March 11, 1941.
The Lockheed Hudson built in Burbank was delivered to Canada and then the United Kingdom starting in 1939.
By the end of the war California had 70% of the aerospace manufacturing in the United States and had built over 200,000 planes.
[118] Joshua Hendy Iron Works was the biggest supplier of reciprocating engines for Liberty ships in the country.
California's weather, wide open spaces, railroad connections, and access to ocean made it an ideal location for training pilots, also armored vehicles operators.
To prepare troops for the battles in the North African campaign, the army had General Patton build many desert training camps in Southern California and a few in Arizona.
Bases were used for induction, training, deployment, supply depots, hospitals and housing of POWs.
United States Army Air Corps World War II bases, airstrips and landing pads in California:[139][140] United States Navy's main marine bases were located in the deepwater ports of: San Diego Bay, Port of Los Angeles, San Francisco Bay and the Stockton Deepwater Shipping Channel.
The US Navy during WW2 Pacific Fleet operated: ports, supply depots and airfields for aircraft carrier training, also blimps used for patrol of the coast.
Post World War II many shipyards became home of the Pacific Reserve Fleet used to store the many surplus ships.
[148][149][150] United States Coast Guard World War II bases in California: The United States Merchant Marine operated merchant ships out of California US Navy and private ports to supply goods needed around the world.
[151][152][153][154] The Maritime Service established several Merchant Marine training centers in California for World War 2:
