Camp Davis

A Guide Booklet

Original booklet, designed for the soldier entering Camp Davis. It discribes the Camp and surrounding territory, listing facilities for the soldier's comfort and pleasure.

Camp Davis was originally designated as Coast Artillery Training Center, but by early 1942 it had separated from that service branch to become the nation’s premier Antiaircraft Artillery Training Center. For a few brief months in its early operation in 1941, Camp Davis featured all three principal segments of Coast Artillery: Seacoast Defense, Barrage Balloons, and Antiaircraft Artillery. Rapidly constructed in early 1941 and housing about 20000 soldiers and officers, the site played a crucial role in developing the personnel and technology necessary for defending the U.S. and its forces from aerial attack.

Beyond its primary function, Camp Davis also contributed to the formation of the Women Airforce Service Pilots (WASP), functioned as a POW enclosure, and was home to early missile development programs.

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Pfc. Peter J. Christofas

Pfc
Peter J. Christofas

GordonSchlenker

Pfc. Peter J. Christofas

C Battery - 559th AAA Aw Battalion

Peter Christofas was born on October 13, 1924, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, to Andromaky (Anna) Dardamanos and John L. Christofas, both parents where born in Greece. Peter Christofas graduate of the Northeast High School in 1942.

Peter John Christofas, #33591931, enlisted on March 19, 1943 in New Cumberland, Pennsylvania. On March 23, 1943 the 559th Coast Artillery Battalion was activated at Camp Davis and on May 15, 1943 it was reorganized as the 559th Antiaircraft Artillery Weapens Battalion. Peter Christofas served in Europe with the 559th Anti-aircraft Atomatic Weapens Battalion and saw action in the Battle of the Bulge and Germany. He was Honorably Discharged on January 22, 1946.

After the war he was an apprentice sheetmetal worker at an US Naval Yard. Peter J. Christofas died on his birthday, October 13, 1947, in the U.S. Naval Hospital, Philadelphia, after he was ill for a year with bone cancer.