Arizona during World War II

During the war Mexican-American community organizations were very active in patriotic efforts to support American troops abroad, and made efforts to support the war effort materially and to provide moral support for the young American men fighting the war, especially the young Mexican-American men from local communities. Some of the community projects were cooperative ventures in which members of both the Mexican-American and Anglo communities participated. Most efforts made in the Mexican-American community, however, represented localized American home front activities that were separate from the activities of the Anglo community.[1] Mexican-American women organized to assist their servicemen and the war effort. An underlying goal of the Spanish-American Mothers and Wives Association was the reinforcement of the woman's role in Spanish-Mexican culture. The organization raised thousands of dollars, wrote letters, and joined in numerous celebrations of their culture and their support for Mexican-American servicemen. Membership reached over 300 during the war and eventually ended its existence in 1976.[2]

Arizona's Camp Florence, on the Florence Military Reservation, was the first permanent alien enemy camp constructed during World War II. Construction began during 1942 to house 3000 internees, with room to expand to 6000. The initial construction budget was $4.8 million. Large numbers of alien enemies did not occur, so Camp Florence was used as a POW camp.[5]

• 
  Eight Arizonans were killed aboard USS Arizona during the attack on Pearl Harbor.[6]
• 
  The entrance to Williams Field in 1942.
• 
  Two AT-6 Texans in flight near Luke Field in 1943.
• 
  Ira Hayes, who is seen here preparing to parachute out of an aircraft in 1943, was a Pima native from Sacaton. He participated in many engagements in the South Pacific before becoming famous for raising the American flag on Mount Suribachi during the Battle of Iwo Jima.
• 
  B-25 Mitchell crewmen at Douglas Army Airfield in 1944.
• 
  Skeet shooting at Kingman Field in 1944.
• 
  The Hirano family was interned at the Poston War Relocation Center from 1942 to 1945.
• 
  The Bushmasters during the Philippines Campaign in 1945.

• American Theater (World War II)
• Battle of Ambos Nogales
• Bisbee Riot
• Fort Lawton Riot
• Military history of the United States during World War II
• Nevada during World War II
• New Mexico during World War II
• Arizona World War II Army Airfields