Number of sites found in Merced County:12

Click a listed location to see the sites there. Or click here to see the entire list. Or return to the main page.

Sites:

NameAcresLocatedDescription
Merced Auxiliary Field No. 1236.00AthloneMerced Auxiliary Field No. 1 was located approximately three miles southeast of Athlone and 10 miles southeast of Merced in Merced County, CA. On 13 January 1942, the War Department acquired by lease 236.00 acres from a private resident. The total acreage acquired for the site was 236.00. The site was known as Athlone Auxiliary Field, Athlone Auxiliary Field No. 4, Merced Army Airfield (Athlone Auxiliary Field), and Athlone Field, A-4. The site was used by the Army Air Force as an auxiliary landing field for the Army Air Force basic flying training school. Improvements to the site were not listed. On 03 November 1945, 236.00 lease acres were terminated. Records did not indicate if restoration was required or if the property was recapturable. In 1988 the site was owned by the Santa Fe Pacific Realty Corporation and sold in April 1989 to Lin Bin-Yu. Lin Bin-Yu is the current property owner.
Ballico Auxiliary Field No. 2622.00BallicoThe US Dept. of War purchased the 622-acre site in Sept. and Oct. 1942 for use as an auxiliary military aifield for Merced Air Base. It was designed Ballico Auxiliary Field No. 2. During WW II, the Ballico Auxiliary Field was used almost exclusively for training by pilot trainees based at Merced Air Base and elsewhere. The airfield comprised at 193-acre rectangular landing area approximately 3,000 feet long in the northwest-southeast direction and 2,800 feet wide in the northeast-southwest direction. The landing area was covered with SC-3 road oil, which gave it a thin surface similar in appearance to asphalt pavement. Structures on the site included a crash truck shelter, an administration building, a latrine, a small storage shed, and a small portable control tower. The U.S. Government classified Ballico Auxiliary Field No. 2 as surplus in August of 1945. The site was turned over to the City of Turlock on July 9, 1947 by way of a Quitclaim Deed. The City of Turlock sold approximately 306 acres located in the northwest half of the original 622 acres to a local farmer for agricultural use, retaining approximately 316 acres. The northeast part of these 316 acres is occupied by the Turlock Municipal Airport. The southeast part is occupied by the Mustang Creek Watershed Sump, which is operated and maintained by the Ballico Resource Conversation District (Merced County Public Works Department).
Gustine Bombing Range510.00Gustine510 ACRES WERE ACQUIRED FOR USE AS GUSTINE BOMBING RANGE. THIS SITE WAS USED AS A PRACTICE TARGET FOR BOTH NAS CROWS LANDING AND ALAMEDA. IN 1946, THE ACREAGE WAS SURPLUSED AND WAS RETURNED TO THE SIMON NEWMAN CO.
Merced Auxiliary Field No. 3479.77LivingstonPrior to April 1944, the War Department leased 480 acres in two parcels to be used as a dry-weather auxiliary airfield for the Army Air Forces Training Command. On 15 April 1944, the property was declared excess. The leases were canceled on 7 August 1944 and 4 September 1944. Based on the foregoing, the site has been determined to be formerly used by the DOD and is eligible for the Defense Environmental Restoration Program for Formerly Used Defense Sites, established under 10 U.S.C. 2701 et seq.
Castle Afb Tvor Annex341.11MercedN/A
Merced Army AirfieldMerced
Castle Afb Ils Outer Marker Annex1.45MercedOn 19 May 1958, 1.31 fee acres were acquired by condemnation and 0.14 easement acres were acquired by deed dated 26 April 1954 for the establishment of an off-base instrument lancing facility to Castle Air Force Base. On 13 September 1976, the 1.31 fee acres and 0.14 easement acres were quitclaimed and conveyed to a private owner in exchange for 0.26 fee acres at Castle AFB. On 03 October 1988, the property was sold to Mel Maxwell of Maxwell Enterprises. Based on the foregoing, the site has been determined to be formerly used by the Department of Defense and is eligible for the Defense Environmental Restoration Program for Formerly Used Defense Sites, established under 10 U.S.C. 2701 et seq.
Castle Afb Radio Beacon Annex1.03MercedBy Memorandum of Understanding dated 15 March 1954 and by Supplemental Agreement dated 5 May 1954, the U.S. Air Force acquired 1.03 acres for a Homing Beacon Facility at Castle Air Force Base, California. The Memorandum of Understanding for the 1.03 acres was terminated by letter dated 2 August 1961. According to paragraph 8 of the Memorandum, upon cessation of use and need by the Air Force, the agreement would be terminated and existing improvements turned over to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, the current owner of the property. Condition at time of disposal is unknown. All building and improvements have been removed, including the two underground, 1,000-gallon tanks. These tanks were removed according to California Leaky Underground Storage Tank Guidelines in February 1988. There is no evidence of unsafe debris, hazardous or toxic waste, or unexploded ordnance resulting from DoD use of the site. Based on the foregoing findings of fact, the site has been determined to be formerly used by the Department of Defense. Therefore, it is eligible for the Formerly Used Defense Sites Program, established under 10 U.S.C. 2701 et seq.
Merced Japanese Reception Center91.02MercedBy a final judgment filed on 3 February 1944, 9.03 fee acres were acquired. By deed dated 6 March 1943, 9.23 fee acres were conveyed to the United States, for a total of 36.99 fee acres. Approximately 54.03 acres of land were leased in three parcels, for total site acreage of 91.02. The site was used by the Army Air Force as a Japanese Reception and Relocation Center. On 12 December 1945, the Federal Public Housing Authority assumed accountability for the 36.99 fee acres. On 9 February 1945, the 54.03 lease acres were terminated.Based on the foregoing Findings of Fact, the site has been determined to be formerly used by Department of Defense. It is therefore eligible for the Defense Environmental Restoration Program  Formerly Used Defense Sites established under 10 U.S.C.
New Merced Municipal Airport181.80MercedOn August 1, 1943, the U.S. acquired a lease for 181.8 acres from Merced County for use by the U.S. Air Force as an airstrip. In June 1945, the lease was terminated. Based on the foregoing, the site has been determined to be formerly used by the Department of Defense (DoD) and is eligible for the Defense Environmental Restoration Program for Formerly Used Defense Sites, established under 10 U.S.C. 2701 et seq.
Potter Auxiliary Field No. 5640.00MercedIn 1943, the U.S. acquired fee title to 640 acres to be used as an auxiliary field for Army flight training. On May 31, 1947, the property was turned over to the War Assets Administration (WAA). Based on the foregoing, the site has been determined to be formerly used by the Department of Defense (DoD) and is eligible for the Defense Environmental Restoration Program for Formerly Used Defense Sites, established under 10 U.S.C. 2701 et seq.
Castle Afb Communications Annex40.00MercedOn 27 March 1953, the Government acquired 40 fee acres from a private resident to be used by the U.S. Air Force as a remote communications facility for Castle Air Force Base. On 2 August 1972, 40 fee acres were reported excess to the General Services Administration (GSA). GSA then reverted the land to the Department of Interior (DoI). On 13 July 1973 and 19 October 1973, 25 fee acres and 15 fee acres were quitclaimed and conveyed by the DoI, Bureau of Outdoor Recreation to the County of Merced. Based on the foregoing, the site has been determined to be formerly used by the Department of Defense (DoD). However, there is no evidence of unsafe debris, hazardous or toxic waste contamination, or ordnance resulting from DoD use, therefore it is determined that an environmental restoration project is not an appropriate undertaking within the purview of the Defense Environmental Restoration Program, 10 U.S.C. 2701 et seq., for the reasons stated.