46 NOVEMBER 2018 By Greg Bruns During World War II the most famous prisoner-of-war camp in America operated less than a half-mile south of Arcadia. Camp Papago Park property began a block south of Thomas Road and extended south to McDowell Road. The western-most border was 62nd Street and ran east to the Crosscut canal (roughly 66th Street, meandering southeast). With a capacity of about 3,000 prisoners, Camp Papago Park became famous after “The Great Papago Escape” in December of 1944. The largest escape in history of Axis prisoners on American soil, the breakout was accomplished via a 178-foot tunnel that ranged from 8 to 14 feet under the camp, and was hollowed out over a period of three months. The prisoners had convinced their American captors to allow them to build a volleyball court in the compound, which was instrumental in the distribution of the hard desert soil brought up from below. After the escape, the Phoenix Gazette front page was emblazoned with mug shots of the 25 escapees and information that triggered the largest manhunt in Arizona history. A reward of $25 a head was offered for the capture of any fugitive. All of the prisoners eventually turned themselves in or were captured. After the war, some of the park served as a Veterans Affairs hospital until 1951 and then an Army Reserve facility. Most of the area has since been developed with single- family homes. Today, only a sliver of evidence remains of the one-square-mile Papago POW camp. The Officers Club building (#40 on the map) is still standing, now occupied by the Scottsdale Elks Lodge and the El Molino Mexican Cafe. In the same area, one of the POW houses remains, although it is boarded up. There are also concrete footings of one guard tower behind the Army Reserve Center building. The entrance to the escape tunnel used by German prisoners at Camp Papago Park, AZ, in 1944. From the Phoenix Gazette on December 28, 1944. A view from the guard tower into the German Officer’s Compound (Compound 5) at Papago Park during WWII. The building with the tall chimney is the camp power plant. a brief history of Camp Papago Park The entrance to the escape tunnel used by German LOCATED ON 32ND & CAMELBACK THECOLLINSAZ.COM elcome to the neighborhood. Introducing The Collins Small Batch Kitchen from Common Ground Culinary. Nightly Happy Hour ∙ Kids Eat Free* Easy Curbside Pick-Up ∙ Weekend Brunch *Kids 12 & under eat free daily from 3-6pm. Dine in only. 5410 N. Scottsdale Rd. Suite E-300 | Paradise Valley, AZ 85253 | (480) 947-6788 BEALSMD.COM Board Certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgery Specializing in Facial & Body Rejuvenation. Practice includes a fully equipped Skin and Laser Center. V I S I T U S A T C A T E R E D B Y : Cowgirls Forever , cooking from the Old West! THURS. NOV. 8 | 5-7PM | SUITES E-300, E-400, & COURTYARD WILD, WILD WEST How to tame your skin in the JOIN OUR OPEN HOUSE EVENT! FEATURING: P R E S E N T A T I O N B Y D R . B E A L S A N D S T A F F P R O D U C T D E M O S S P E C I A L O F F E R S A N D P R I Z E S A N D M U C H M O R E ! S P E C I A L O F F E R S A N D P R I Z E S

47 NOVEMBER 2018 THOMAS ROAD HOSPITAL AREA POW OFFICERS RECREATION AREA 64 th St. 62 nd St. 64 th St. (Holiday Ave.) CROSSCUT CANAL SEWAGE PLANT COMPOUND #6 COMPOUND #5 COMPOUND #3 GARRISON QUARTERS MOTOR POOL GARRISON OFFICERS QUARTERS RIDING ACADEMY PRIVATE PROPERTY WATER RESERVOIR ATHLETIC AREA PUMP HOUSE 93 67 34 31 32 33 50 53 56 59 59 59 58 61 62 63 60 60 49 48 40 38 27 39 36 35 37 29 SUPPLY YARD HYVIEW NEIGHBORHOOD HERITAGE EAST NEIGHBORHOOD POW RECREATION AREA COMPOUND #2 COMPOUND #4 COMPOUND #1 MCDOWELL ROAD CAMP PIMA MAP KEY PATROL ROADS WIRE FENCES GUARD TOWERS ARMY BUILDINGS POW BUILDINGS OAK ST. MOSS ST. HERITAGE EAST NEIGHBORHOOD Publisher’s Note: There are some great historical aspects of our neighborhood, although some are more sobering than others. The first time I saw the blueprint of Camp Papago Park, I was astounded to discover how much space was taken up by the POW camp – it’s nearly a square mile. I was also surprised to learn that there were 3000 German prisoners “living” there just 73 years ago. Special thanks to the good people at the Elks Lodge, who allowed us to photograph the Camp Papago blueprint on their wall. The fact that their lodge/building is on a 1945 blueprint of a prisoner-of-war camp – and is still in daily operations – is incredible. — Greg A. Bruns MAJOR BUILDINGS 27. Commanding Officers Quarters 29. Fire Station 31. Auditorium 32. Recreation Building 33. Service Club 34. Post Exchange 35. Administration Building 37. Ration Storage 38. Nurses Quarters 39. Officers Mess 40. Officers Club 48. Motor Repair Shop 49. Chapel/QM Headquarters 50. Guard Headquarters 53. Guard House 56. Hospital Administration 58. Infirmary 59/60. Hospice Wards 61. Storage & Morgue 62. Hospital Mess 63. Boilerhouse 67. Provost 93. Swimming Pool OAK ST. MOSS ST. CAMELBACK ROAD THOMAS ROAD OAK ST. 56 TH ST. 60 TH ST. 64 TH ST. 68 TH ST. INDIAN SCHOOL ROAD MCDOWELL ROAD MAP: GABE C. TURNER POW CAMP MAP, 1945