Petaluma Bombing Target Archive Search Report ... - Corpsfuds.org

ARCHIVES SEARCH REPORT - FINDINGS
Petaluma 12th Naval District Target No. 9
Petaluma, CA
The target center for the rocket firing range (B) lies in the south half of the site, in an area
of pooled water between the Mira Monte Slough and Donahue Slough. Like the other
target, it's layout nearly matches the typical 12'~ Naval District design, but does vary
slightly. A 100-foot diameter ring circling a 20-foot square marks the center of the
target. Dimples less than 10 feet wide are visible within 300-400 feet of the target. The
dimples may be natural or craters resulting from High Explosives (HE) (Bl), it is not
clear from the imagery. The dimple width implies that if they are craters, they are fiom
fairly large munitions. A minor trail (B2) leads from the target to Mira Monte Slough
about 900 feet to the WNW, where there is a footbridge crossing the waterway (B3).
The flight path is delineated with markers (C) spaced about 500 feet apart for 4,500 feet
fore and 2,000 feet aft of the target, where the flight line meets the Petaluma River. The
flight path markers are about 10 by 35 feet and are raised above the ground surface. The
flight marker (D) 1,500 feet fore of the target is smaller in size and corresponds to the
Observer's Post for "checking the deflection of rounds". Based on this and the layout of
the typical rocket range, the flight direction was from the north to the south.
Perpendicular to the target flight line, a second Observer's Post for "checking the range
of rounds" is visible on the west bank of Mira Monte Slough about 1,200 feet to the west
(E). A straight trail is visible along this perpendicular line for nearly a thousand feet, to
the west of the Observer's Post, through the wetlands (El). About 4,000 feet west of the
target center, there is a small dock and structure visible that is ostensibly the Range
Control Officer's post (F). It lies on the north bank about 1,000 feet west of the
intersection of Mud Hen Slough with San Antonio Creek.
4.4.2.2 December 1945-July 1948 Imagery
Other imagery fiom the late 1940s (i.e. December 1945, April 1946, October 1947 and
July 1948) covered the remainder of the site. Much of this imagery was also at a good
scale for analysis. It was reviewed and confirmed the findings noted on the October 1945
photography and ascertained that no other targets or features of note were constructed on
site. No features of any significance beyond those described above were noted.
4.4.2.3 August-November 1952 and later Imagery
This imagery represents the condition of the site at the time that the Navy ended its lease
for the property. The layout and features remain discernable that were noted in October
1945, with the exception of the rocket target center, which is not visible, possibly due to
high water in the pool where the center was located. The flight path markers remain
easily discernable confirming the location of the center.
By 1960, a road enters the site from Neils Island to the west in between the Tule and
Woloki Sloughs. The road leads to two structures on a cleared pad about 300 feet east of
what had been the Cruiser Target, which is no longer discernable. One of the structures
Section 4 - History
Page 33