The Invasion of Morro Bay, CA ...

[Mark Allen M]

Thought I would post a few photos from the National WW2 Museum archives. Super interesting because this is in my neck of the woods. I've hiked all over Morro Bay, flown several times over that beach and fished and surfed off the coast right in the same location as these Amphibious training maneuvers at Morro Bay, California c 1944. From the collection of Maurice T. White, Captain in the 168th Signal Photographic Company, US Army Signal Corps. The collection consists of 2,000+ images of training exercises, predominantly documenting the 81st Infantry Division in the United States in 1944.

Lots more photos from the link below. Great stuff worth some time.
http://ww2online.org/browse/white-collection

[Mark Allen M]

Suppose I should fess up and tell ya's I got in a bit of trouble when I first moved to California way back when. Some buddies and I climbed up to the top of that Morro Bay Rock. A big no no that we didn't know about. Almost to the top and a dude was yelling at us from down at the bottom to get off of the rock. He turned out to be a park ranger who wrote us hefty tickets for climbing the rock. We didn't know there were signs everywhere stating "do not climb the rock because of endangered bird nests" ... oops! didn't see the signs .... right! said the ranger.

Went to court on the ticket and the judge said we could either pay the fine or spend a weekend working (clearing out ice plant) in Montana De Oro State Park right next to Morro Bay. We foolishly chose to work off the ticket. Bad idea. If anyone has ever tried to clear ice plant off the side of a hill you'll know what I mean when I say .... ouch!!

M

[sandiego89]

Fantasitc, I'm from a bit south of there (Ojai, CA) but have been there numerous times. Great shots.

[Pat Carry]

Thanks Mark, cool stuff

[p51]

Is it just me, or could this one pass for Iwo?

[Cubs]

Was this invasion just a documentary of our troops for the war effort? I noticed some movie film crews in a few of the photos.
Or was this actual training for the big invasion of the Japanese home island?

Fascinating stuff, nonetheless.