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Battery Harrison BCN-242
Twin six-inch armored turret guns

The third and final six-inch battery to be built for the harbor defenses of Los Angeles was Battery 242 at the Bolsa Chica Military Reservation in Huntington Beach.
 
The battery was completed and armed by before the end of World War Two and the guns remained in place and operational until 1948 when they were cut up for scrap.
 
 War Department General Order 51 issued on June 10, 1946 officially changed the name of the battery to honor the memory of Major Harry J Harrison.
 


This 200 series 6" Coast Artillery Gun is identical to the ones installed at Battery 242 is  currently on exhibit at Battery Crenshaw, Fort Columbia, Washington.
Major Harry J. Harrison (1910-1944) served at Fort MacArthur as a member of the 3rd Coast Artillery from December 1940 to February 1942. Unhappy with stateside service, Major Harrison requested a transfer to the 82nd Airborne and became a battalion commander with the 508th Parachute Infantry Regiment. In spite of his age and background, he completed his training in time to participate in the D-Day assault.

Harrison and his men were dropped "out of zone" and had many adventures in the early, confusing days of the Normandy invasion. After a conflict with his commanding officer Major Harrison was transferred to the First Battalion Headquarters of the 109th Infantry. He died during intense fighting in the Heurtgen Forest near Vossenak, Germany on November 17th 1944. Major Harry J. Harrison is buried in the Gettysburg National Cemetery beside his brother Oscar. who was killed in the North Africa campaign. Their brother Bill served in the Pacific Theatre and survived the war.


Photograph showing the progress of the demolition of Battery Harrison BCN-242

The Guns of Fort MacArthur

    Battery Osgood - Farley
    Battery Leary Merriam
    Battery Barlow - Saxton
    Battery Lodor
    Battery Erwin

    Battery Eubanks

    Battery 127 (Paul D Bunker)

    Battery 128

    Battery 240 (Harry C. Barnes)

    Battery 241

    Battery 242 (Harry J Harrison)

    90mm AMTB

    155 GPF Mobile Guns

    Anti-Aircraft (Fixed and Mobile)

Missile Systems of Fort MacArthur

    The Nike Program

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