Wednesday, June 1, 2011

Douglas Aircraft plant camouflaged during World War II




In April 1942 of World War II, the Douglas Aircraft plant located at 3000 Ocean Park Blvd. in Santa Monica, was camouflaged with burlap supported by a tension compression structure of more than 5 million square feet of chicken wire and 400 poles covering the entire factory. A dummy of the aircraft plant was built near the dummy neighborhood. From above, it appeared to be just another part of the neighborhood, with houses and cars. The design was developed by landscape architect Edward Huntsman-Trout. Volunteers from Hollywood film studios pitched in to create the false landscape. Photographs of the camouflaged plant are located in the Santa Monica Public Library Image Archives. This was one of the most elaborate camouflage jobs of any strategic location during the war.