As the waves crash against the rugged cliffs of Solana Beach, an unassuming structure stands testament to a pivotal chapter in history — the World War II bunker, a hidden gem waiting to unveil its secrets. I sat down with Solana Beach Civic & Historical Society historian Richard Moore to help uncover those secrets. Starting with what was this bunker’s purpose? It was a Fire Control Structure which in case you aren’t aware of what that is, a Fire Control Station was a bunker that had instruments that held a Depression Position Finder and a Azimuth Finder.
These instruments were used for sighting and locating enemy ships on the horizon by providing coordinates for coastal artillery fire. Enemy ships were a real threat; up North near Santa Barbara, a Japanese submarine shelled an oil refinery in late February 1942. It caused considerable panic."
“The Solana Beach bunker never had artillery," Richard continued." Most people mistakenly assume it did but that's not the case.”
It was, however, augmented by six searchlights located on bluffs above the beaces in Cardiff, Solana Beach, Del Mar (above"dog beach") and near what is now Scripps
pier.
Who built these bunkers? The Army Corps of Engineers. Not only did they build just the 1 in Solana Beach but 13 along the coast of San Diego leading down south near the Mexican border.
Below is a list of all 13 locations and their purpose.
Site 1 Solana Beach (Fire Control Structure)
Site 2 Soledad Mountain (Fire Control Structure)
Site 3 La Jolla Hermosa (Fire Control Structure)
Site 4 Theosophical/ Sunset (Fire Control Structure)
Site 5 North Fort Rosecrans (Fire Control Structure)
Site 6 West Fort Rosecrans ( Gun Battery Ashburn)
Site 7 Cabrillo-Fort Rosecrans (Fire Control Structure and Gun Battery)
Site 8 Point Loma (Fire Control Structure)
Site 9 East Fort Rosecrans (Search Lights)
Site 10 North Island/Coronado (Patrol)
Site 11 Coronado Beach/ Silver Strand (Fire Control Structure)
Site 12 Fort Emory (Fire Control Structure)
Site 13 Mexican Border (Fire Control Structure)
Popular legend has it that an artillery battery was located at the Cove, and that the rectangular cement building was an ammunition storage, "but that is not correct" said Richard
This legend that was erroneously reported by the North County Blade-Citizen newspaper in 1990. That report was thoroughly debunked in a letter to the paper from retired U. S. Navy Commander
Nearby, the lifeguards themselves had built a watch tower from which to scan the waters popular with local families and, especially, surfers. From the water, surfers of the 1960s and '70s recall, the watchtower looked like a wartime pillbox, which became the nickname by which the area is still remembered by many in Solana Beach.
In that same letter written in 1990 by the Commander of the U.S Navy. He clearly states that these searchlights and station in Site 1 ( Solana Beach) comprised what was
dubbed the Sante Fe Fire Control Structure. This structure was not located on the beach but rather near a private driveway off Marview Ave. Believe it or not Santa Fe is the farthest one up north in the county. Most of these bunkers are gone, destroyed by homeowners, or just over-grown out of existence.
In addition to that letter, the Commander stated that any sightings in Solana Beach were swiftly relayed to the formidable Fort Rosecrans Battery Ashburn, a bastion armed with two powerful 16-inch artillery guns. Out of the 13 sites just listed, several of them we triangulating from several sites.
These sophisticated instruments housed in the so-called Santa Fe Station provided precise coordinates and determined the optimal angles and distances for the artillery's formidable firepower, ensuring swift and accurate responses to any potential threats.
In a "report of completed works" Army Corps of Engineers and archived in the National Archives, Richard found to share, the bunker stands at about 3 feet above ground. But what’s shocking about visitng the remains of this structue is although it appears small, an accompanying "blueprint" style drawing indicates that it was about 12 feet wide and 8 feet tall. Its construction cost of $4,583.50 underscores the strategic importance placed on coastal defense during WWII.
Today, the Santa Fe bunker is sitting along a private road overlooking the ocean, a silent witness to the historical events of the past. Efforts are underway to have it memorialized by the Solana Beach Historical Society, ensuring that its story and significance are implemented for generations to come.