 In June 1942, St. Petersburg, Florida was selected for a BTC, and with time of the essence, the War Department leased hotels, apartment houses, and other miscellaneous building to accommodate trainees.With the assistance of public officials and owners of the city's hotels, sixty-two hotels were provided for United States Military occupancy.The facility was located in Downtown St. Petersburg, and during its year of operation, additional locations in Clearwater and Clearwater Beach were leased by the War Department.