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Descriptive Finding Guide for James Phillip Baross Personal Papers SDASM.SC.10014
SDASM.SC.10014  
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Table of contents What's This?
  • Biographical/Historical note
  • Conditions Governing Access note
  • Conditions Governing Use note
  • Immediate Source of Acquisition note
  • Preferred Citation note
  • Related Archival Materials note
  • Scope and Contents note

  • Title: James Phillip Baross Personal Papers
    Identifier/Call Number: SDASM.SC.10014
    Contributing Institution: San Diego Air and Space Museum Library and Archives
    Language of Material: English
    Physical Description: 0.36 Cubic feet One (1) box, 12” x 5” x 10.5”
    Date (inclusive): 1942-1945
    Abstract: The James Phillip Baross Personal Papers contains documents and objects relating to and collected by Baross during his service as a flight radio operator in World War II.
    creator: Baross, James P., (James Phillip), 1923 - 2003

    Biographical/Historical note

    James Baross served as a radio operator aboard bombers during WWII, serving with the Army Air Forces, 501st Squadron, 345th Bomb Group.
    James Phillip Baross was born on August 28, 1923. He was a member of the Musicians Protective Association before World War II broke out. At the age of 19, Baross enlisted to the Reserve Corps of the Army on November 9, 1942. He was trained at Camp Upton, Long Island, arriving February 25, 1943, and was later sent to U.S. Army Air Corp basic training at Miami Beach, Florida. Later, his training took him to California and, according to his memoir, he liked the weather so much he decided he would one day live there. He was deployed to the Pacific Theatre near the Philippines as a radio operator aboard various types of bombers, primarily the North American B-25 Mitchell. Many of his wartime stories are contained in his memoir, which was conducted through the Library of Congress’s Veterans History Project later in his life. Baross, achieving the rank of Technical Sergeant, kept a required and extensive catalogue of over 40 bombing missions (included in the collection). When he returned to the United States he married, Mary, who he would be with until he passed away on January 4, 2003. He is buried in Riverside.

    Conditions Governing Access note

    The collection is open to researchers by appointment.

    Conditions Governing Use note

    Some copyright may be reserved. Consult with the library director for more information.

    Immediate Source of Acquisition note

    The materials in this collection were donated to the San Diego Air & Space Museum. The collection has been processed and is open for research.

    Preferred Citation note

    [Item], [Filing Unit], [Series Title], [Subgroups], [Record Group Title and Number], [Repository “San Diego Air & Space Museum Library & Archives”]

    Related Archival Materials note

    A more detailed finding guide is available at http://www.sandiegoairandspace.org/collections/collection_item.php?id=131

    Scope and Contents note

    1 Box, 12” x 5” x 10.5”. This collection spans 3 years of documents, mostly belonging to James Phillip Baross. They detail missions he flew in his B-25 bomber and other experiences in World War 2. It also includes documents detailing a leave of absence he had. More than Baross there are also journals and documents of East Asian writing, most likely Japanese. Finally, the last dated document is June of 1945.

    Subjects and Indexing Terms

    Baross, James P., (James Phillip), 1923 - 2003
    Musicians Mutual Protective Association. (Los Angeles, Calif.)
    United States. Army. Air Corps.
    United States. Army. Organized Reserve Corps.
    Atlantic City (New Jersey)
    Flight radio operators
    Japan (nation)
    Japan--History--1926-1945
    Pacific Theater
    Sino-Japanese War, 1937-1945
    World War, 1939-1945