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The Descriptive Finding Guide for the Jame Alfonte Personal Papers
SDASM.SC.10004
SDASM.SC.10004
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Table of contents
Title: Brig. Gen. James Alfonte Personal Papers 1886-1951
Identifier/Call Number: SDASM.SC.10004
Contributing Institution:
San Diego Air and Space Museum Library and Archives
Language of Material:
English
Physical Description:
0.4 Cubic feet
one box collection measuring 12 ¼” x 10 ½” x 5”.
Date (inclusive): 1917-1919
Abstract: This collection contains the personal papers of Brig. Gen. James Alfonte. The bulk of the material relates to his aviation
career during World War I.
creator:
Alfonte, James, Brig. Gen., (James Raymond), 1886-1951
James Raymond Alfonte was born on Dec. 7, 1886 in Fortville, Indiana. He attended Purdue University, then was commissioned
in the U.S. Army Infantry in October 1911. He participated in the Punitive Expedition to Mexico in 1916 under General Pershing.
Later that year he was ordered to the newly-formed Signal Corps Aviation School on San Diego’s North Island to train as a
student pilot. During his training he was involved in at least one crash on the beach at Encinitas. Upon receiving his wings
in 1917 he was transferred to Camp Kelly in San Antonio to form and command the 28th Aero Squadron. This unit is still in
service today as the 28th Bomb Squadron, part of the 7th Bomb Wing at Dyess Air Force Base in Texas. Following this assignment,
Alfonte was made the commanding officer at Call Field in Wichita Falls. After World War I, Alfonte saw extensive duty with
the Quartermaster Corps between 1921 and 1945. He graduated from the Command and General Staff School in 1930, the Army Industrial
College in 1932 and the Army War College in 1938. He was Quartermaster of the Infantry School from 1938 until 1942, when he
was promoted to Brigadier General. From 1943-1945 he was the Commanding General of the New Cumberland, Pennsylvania, Army
Services Depot. He held the same position at the Utah Army Service Forces Depot from 1945-1946. He retired in 1946 and died
on Feb. 8, 1951. He is buried in Arlington National Cemetery.
Conditions Governing Access note
The collection is open to researchers by appointment.
Some copyright may be reserved. Consult with the library director for more information.
[Item], [Filing Unit], [Series Title], [Subgroups], [Record Group Title and Number], [Repository “San Diego Air & Space Museum
Library & Archives”]
Immediate Source of Acquisition note
The records were acquired by the San Diego Air & Space Museum in 2009.
The collection contains material related to the aviation career of Brig. Gen. James Raymond Alfonte. The material begins with
his assignment to Rockwell Field in San Diego in 1916 and continues through his reassignment to the Quartermaster Corps in
1919. The collection includes correspondence, orders, cap wings, flight logs, a pilot’s certificate and a large number of
original photographs.
Related Archival Materials note
Alfonte Collection Flikr site (http://www.flickr.com/photos/sdasmarchives/sets/72157624472370565/) North Island Collection
(Digital Media) A History of Rockwell Field (Digital Media)
Subjects and Indexing Terms
North Island Naval Air Station