The city of San Bernardino—located in the Inland Empire—assisted in aircraft construction for the United States Air Force, during World War II.[1]

Aircraft Construction (1942-1943):

The Air Corps supply depot, located between San Bernardino and neighboring Redlands, employed about 2,500 to 4,000 workers at the facility.2 The depot repaired and serviced all the military planes in Southern California and other nearby states (e.g. Arizona).3

Next to the depot, the Morrow Aircraft Company made training ships. The first one of the ships made at this facility was successfully tested, and therefore given to the United States government.4 At the San Bernardino Army Air Base, not only were the planes it made used by the Air Force, but all the equipment and material stored at the base were used in a variety of US Air Force operations worldwide.5 Its employees ranged in age, from high school adolescents to elderly individuals well into their sixties.6 As the US became more involved in the war, both in the Pacific Theater and Europe, San Bernardino’s war industries and economy drew many migrants to the city for work opportunities.

Housing Issues (1943):

With the vast amounts of incoming residents wanting industrial jobs, housing issues arose in the area. A group that represented the Congressional Building and Grounds Committee arrived at the city on April 14th, 1943 during its nationwide tour.7 They inspected all the military and defense installations in the city and surveyed how many houses were available for the industrial workers. The group agreed that there should be more housing provided to the workers but commented that the dorms at the Army Air Depot were “modern and adequate,” compared to the other military-based areas that the group had inspected.8

Anti-Japanese Sentiment (1942-1945):

Many Japanese-Americans lived in San Bernardino. Shortly after the events of Pearl Harbor, they were forced into internment camps just like other Japanese-Americans living closer to the Pacific coast. Every Japanese-American was ordered to be cleared out by July 18, 1942, and were sent to the Colorado River Relocation Center in Arizona.9  

San Bernardino Today

[1] “San Bernardino Depot Keeps Warplanes Flying,” Los Angeles Times, December 14, 1943.

2 “San Bernardino County,” Los Angeles Times, January 2, 1942.

3 Ibid.

4 Ibid.

5 “San Bernardino Depot Keeps Warplanes Flying,” Los Angeles Times, December 14, 1943.  

6 Ibid.

7 “War Housing Strain Found: Congressional Group Members Visit San Bernardino,” Los Angeles Times, April 15, 1943.

8 Ibid.  

9 “San Bernardino County Japs to Be Out July 18,” Los Angeles Times, July 5, 1942.