Baross (James P.) Personal Papers, 1942-1945

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Summary

Title:
James Phillip Baross Personal Papers
Dates:
1942-1945
Creators:
Baross, James P., (James Phillip), 1923 - 2003
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.
Extent:
0.36 Cubic feet One (1) box, 12” x 5” x 10.5”
Language:
Preferred citation:

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

Background

Scope and content:

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.

Biographical / historical:

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.

Acquisition information:
The materials in this collection were donated to the San Diego Air Space Museum. The collection has been processed and is open for research.
Rules or conventions:
Describing Archives: A Content Standard

About this collection guide

Collection Guide Author:
Finding aid prepared by Reilly Jensen
Date Prepared:
May 27, 2014
Date Encoded:
This finding aid was produced using the Archivists' Toolkit 2015-10-29T13:27-0400

Access and use

Restrictions:

The collection is open to researchers by appointment.

Terms of access:

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

Preferred citation:

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

Location of this collection:
2001 Pan American Plaza, Balboa Park
San Diego, CA 92101, US
Contact:
(619) 234-8291
archives@sdasm.org
Website