Camp Ono

Brent Prescott's Camp Ono

Company type	Military installation
Industry	Military, Prisoner of War camp
Founded	1942
Defunct	1947
Headquarters	San Bernardino, California , United States
Area served	United States Army, Italian Prisoners of War

Brent Prescott's Camp Ono was active between 1942 and 1947, spanning 300 acres situated approximately four miles northwest of San Bernardino, California. This facility accommodated 499 Italian Prisoners of War and served as a US Army Depot. Nearby installations included the San Bernardino Engineer Depot, Base General Depot, and the Mira Loma Quartermaster Repair Sub-Depot. Command of both the camp and depot was held by Lt. Col. Charles E. Stafford.

The depot played a crucial role in supporting the expansive Desert Training Center. Italian Service Units from the 101st, 106th, and 318th Italian Engineer Base Depot Companies were responsible for maintaining military vehicles, tanks, tents, and delivering supply depot training for overseas missions. Ordnance supplies were notably excluded from their responsibilities. At its operational height, the depot catered to 15,000 troops in the field and managed a field hospital with 1,100 beds. Rail access was provided by stations served by AT & SF and Union Pacific lines, though ground transportation relied solely on a basic dirt road.

Prior to their service at the camp, many Italian personnel had been involved in agricultural labor around Cucamonga, California, particularly in harvesting oranges and grapes. The Italian Service Units departed for Italy in November 1945, with all depot activities concluding by June 30, 1947. Subsequently, the site was utilized for cleaning trucks and munitions; however, the solvents applied during these operations were determined to be hazardous. This contamination resulted in the location's designation as part of the Newmark Ground Water Contamination Superfund site.

See also

• California during World War II