Yuma Proving Grounds is a military testing area for new technologies. It began in 1943 as the Special Bridge Test Section to assist in the development of floating bridges by testing them in the swiftly flowing Colorado River. The bridge tests were also used to train engineering troops in using the finalized bridges in the European theatre of WWII. In 1944, due to lack of man power, the testing was carried out by volunteer Italian Prisoner of War troops. Near the end of the war testing was also done on placing roads across rice paddies in preparation for invading Japan.
This collection is an eclectic mix of materials donated by individuals associated with the Proving Grounds, and records copied from the National Archives.
This collection is organized into nine series: Series I – Documents, Series II – General, Series III – Historical Preservation, Series IV – Newspaper Articles, Series V – Personnel, Series VI – Photographs, Series VII – Publications, Series VIII – Videos, Series IX – Oversize.
