Camp Phillips General Headquarters in Saline Cunty, Kansas, 1943.
After the United States was thrust into World War II in December 1941, a significant transformation occurred in Saline County, Kansas, with the establishment of Camp Phillips, a World War II Army post, and the Smoky Hill Army Air Field (later renamed Schilling Air Force Base).
In May 1942, the federal government requisitioned over 45,000 acres of farmland in Saline County to construct Camp Phillips, which would play a pivotal role in the war effort.
Architectural planning and preliminary survey work for Camp Phillips began on May 12, 1942, with actual construction of the massive U.S. Army camp starting on May 29.
On June 4, 1942, the army released a map showing that they were going to condemn about 45,000 acres of Saline County, Kansas, farm land on which they were going to build a “Triangular Division” training area.
The government action displaced 107 farm families, who had to sell their land at reduced Government prices, get rid of their livestock and farm implements at rock bottom prices, and 300 people were forced to move out within 15 days. This wasn’t easy because they couldn’t move during the day, as the roads were packed with big machinery. Some of these people were third and fourth-generation farmers on this land, who were called on for quite a sacrifice.
Construction ran around the clock as over 9,000 workers built housing for 45,000 troops and 5,000 civilian personnel.
Camp Phillips Hospital in Saline County, Kansas, 1943.
When completed, the small city boasted hundreds of barracks, a 1,726-bed hospital, five movie theaters, 100 recreational buildings, 11 churches, over 30 warehouses, laundry facilities, a complete sewer system, cold storage plants, and about 54 miles of roads to connect the vast camp that stretched across 45,000 acres, linking numerous training and target areas, and obstacle courses. In addition to the more than 3,500 buildings that were built, all kinds of training and target areas were established, along with a special area to store ammunition. Army records indicate that it was constructed at a total cost of less than $23 million. The camp was named for Colonel William A. Phillips, who was born in Scotland and came to the United States as a youth. He achieved a glorious career during the Civil War and built the first building in what is now the town of Salina, Kansas.
Work was far enough along that the first Post Commander and troop train arrived on September 24, 1942, less than five months later. The Salina Cantonment was officially named Camp Phillips on October 6.
By December 31, 1942, the construction was completed, and the facility was officially handed over to the U.S. Army engineers on January 30, 1943. The camp covered 69 square miles and included facilities for 36,027 troops.
The project spawned a small city near Smolan, Kansas.
Camp Phillips Chapel in Saline County, Kansas, 1943.
Over the years, Camp Phillips operated as a combat training center, instructing over 150,000 U.S. Army troops and artillery soldiers. The camp hosted four infantry divisions and 19 non-divisional units, including the 94th, 80th, 79th, and 44th Infantry Divisions, which were all assigned to the European theater. Other notable projects included an enormous army tank repair and rebuilding depot covering 60 acres. Another site of 40 acres was covered by massive pilings, approximately 150 feet long, which were intended for use in European or Japanese harbors if needed. Camp Phillips had a peak of over 45,000 soldiers and 5,000 civilians.
Camp Phillips was deactivated on October 27, 1944. After November 1944, Camp Phillips became a prisoner of war camp and surplus storage depot. There were about 7,000 German and Italian POWs imprisoned there.
The dismantling of the camp began in June 1945, with many buildings repurposed for civilian use.
By 1946, 440 barracks had been shipped to universities for temporary student housing. Other barracks were moved and converted to farm sheds and garages around the area.
Nearby Shilling Air Force Base continued to provide a military influence in the Smoky Hills region until 1966, when the federal government closed the base.
Today, the Smoky Hill Weapons Range occupies part of the former Camp Phillips site. Of the original 44,090 acres, 32,000 acres remain under the control of the War Department.
Camp Phillips Service Club in Saline County, Kansas, 1943.
©Kathy Alexander/Legends of Kansas, September 2025.
Also See:
Sources:
Dalatown
GeoCities
KSAL News Radio
Salina Post
Smoky Hill Museum