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Bouse, Arizona: Secret Armored Military Tribute

The armored vehicles are part of a belated acknowledgment of a super-secret military project that took place at Camp Bouse in World War II.

Address:
Main St., Bouse, AZ
Directions:
Downtown. On the northeast corner of Hwy 72 and Main St.
Admission:
Free
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Visitor Tips and News About Secret Armored Military Tribute

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748th Tank Battalion monument.

Secret Armored Military Tribute

The tanks and monuments are located in the center of town, on a very dusty road. Lots of different placards from different organizations. If you are a WWII buff, this is a nice place to stop for some history that most have never heard of.

[Joe, 10/02/2023]

Trank Training camp monuments.

Camp Bouse - WWII Tank Training

Camp Bouse was one of ten camps established by George Patton to train US Army Armored units in the early days of WWII. There are several memorials to units that were stationed there, and also an M60 tank and a mobile howitzer donated by the Patton Museum at Chiriaco Summit, CA.

[Vince, 04/23/2014]

Tank.

Tanks in the Desert

In the days before World War II, a British naval commander got the idea that a very bright light could confuse enemy tanks at night. He sold the idea to the British War Office, who shared it with the Americans. In 1942-43 a secret camp was established in Bouse to test this theory. The Americans found the light lacking (they were using it wrong) and scrapped the project.

They then swore everyone who knew about it to secrecy for the next 50 years.

Bouse's role in WWII was finally recognized in 2002 with a number of plaques and a couple of Cold War tanks parked by the side of the road. Also: local lore says that General George Patton slept across the street in the A&C Mercantile store.

[Phrank Phester, 02/16/2014]

Nearby Offbeat Places

Rock Sign For PilotsRock Sign For Pilots, Quartzsite, AZ - 12 mi.
The Desert BarThe Desert Bar, Parker, AZ - 20 mi.
Japanese Internment Camp MonumentJapanese Internment Camp Monument, Poston, AZ - 23 mi.
In the region:
Passmore Gas Co., Hope, AZ - 21 mi.

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