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Writer Charles Cooper continues his series of articles called "Memories of Arcadia" with a history and description of the U.S. Army Balloon School that was at Camp Ross (or Ross Field) in Arcadia during World War I. The balloon school was located on the current site of Arcadia County Park.

https://arcadiahistory.andornot.com/en/permalink/newspaper31584
Newspaper
Arcadia Weekly
Date
July 3, 2003
Pages
p. 1
More detail
Newspaper
Arcadia Weekly
Date
July 3, 2003
Pages
p. 1
Subjects
Camp Ross
U.S. Army Balloon School-Ross Field-Arcadia, CA
World War I
Item ID
31780AN
Collection
Newspaper Index
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Charles Norm Stevens is a World War II veteran and former bombadier who shares his experiences flying in the Army Air Corps and Air Force in his two books, "The Innocent Cadet" and "An Innocent at Polebrook." Stevens, a resident of Monterey Park, signed books at a Friends of the Arcadia Public Library event last week.

https://arcadiahistory.andornot.com/en/permalink/newspaper31478
Newspaper
Pasadena Star News
Date
May 25, 2009
Pages
p. A1, A8
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Newspaper
Pasadena Star News
Date
May 25, 2009
Pages
p. A1, A8
Subjects
Authors
Bombadiers
Memorial Day
Stevens, Charles Norm
War veterans
Item ID
31684AN
Collection
Newspaper Index
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Arcadia resident Arnold Van Steenwyk remembers his WW II experiences in the Air Corps. Photo.

https://arcadiahistory.andornot.com/en/permalink/newspaper13651
Newspaper
Sierra Madre News
Date
May 7, 1998
Pages
p. 9
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Newspaper
Sierra Madre News
Date
May 7, 1998
Pages
p. 9
Subjects
Van Steenwyk, Arnold
Item ID
13861AN
Collection
Newspaper Index
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World War II B-17 bomber pilot Jack McEwan shares his story with Baldwin Stocker Elementary School students.

https://arcadiahistory.andornot.com/en/permalink/newspaper34346
Newspaper
Arcadia Weekly
Date
November 12, 2015
Pages
p. 1, 21
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Newspaper
Arcadia Weekly
Date
November 12, 2015
Pages
p. 1, 21
Subjects
Lau, Jayden
McEwan, Jack
Schools-Baldwin Stocker Elementary
Veterans Day
World War II veterans
Item ID
34539AN
Collection
Newspaper Index
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World War II veteran B-17 bomber pilot Jack McEwan is honored by Baldwin Stocker Elementary School students for Veterans Day.

https://arcadiahistory.andornot.com/en/permalink/newspaper34358
Newspaper
Pasadena Star News
Date
November 11, 2015
Pages
p. A3
More detail
Newspaper
Pasadena Star News
Date
November 11, 2015
Pages
p. A3
Subjects
McEwan, Jack
McEwan, Richard
Schools-Baldwin Stocker Elementary
Veterans Day
World War II veterans
Item ID
34551AN
Collection
Newspaper Index
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World War II vet Art Del Rey and other veterans still meet on the first Wednesday of every month at Coco’s in Arcadia. The group started 3 years ago.

https://arcadiahistory.andornot.com/en/permalink/newspaper35296
Newspaper
Arcadia Weekly
Date
October 11, 2018
Pages
p. 1, 10
More detail
Newspaper
Arcadia Weekly
Date
October 11, 2018
Pages
p. 1, 10
Subjects
Del Rey, Art
World War II veterans
Item ID
35485AN
Collection
Newspaper Index
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Military vehicle, probably used to hoist and pull down the observation balloons used at Ross Field. Two men stand at the back, one with his arm raised as a signal. The San Gabriel Mountains can be seen VERY faintly in background. Buildings at the Balloon School can be seen on either side of the truck.

https://arcadiahistory.andornot.com/en/permalink/photographs1055
Date
c.1918
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  1 image

Date
c.1918
Subjects
Balloon School
Physical Description
8x10 b&w
ID
1047
Collection
Photographs
Images
thumbnail
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A new street in Honolulu, Hawaii, has been named Asher Court after Arcadia resident and World War II Veteran Fred Asher who saved the USS Blue at Pearl Harbor on Dec. 7, 1941.

https://arcadiahistory.andornot.com/en/permalink/newspaper25739
Newspaper
Arcadia Weekly
Date
August 22, 1996
Pages
p. 8
More detail
Newspaper
Arcadia Weekly
Date
August 22, 1996
Pages
p. 8
Subjects
Asher, Fred
World War II
Streets
Item ID
25939AN
Collection
Newspaper Index
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Ninety-three year old fighter pilot Edward J. Lopez publishes "flight of a Hell Hawk," his memoir. He is a World War II veteran and purple heart recipient.

https://arcadiahistory.andornot.com/en/permalink/newspaper34715
Newspaper
Arcadia Weekly
Date
November 10, 2016
Pages
p. 1, 10
More detail
Newspaper
Arcadia Weekly
Date
November 10, 2016
Pages
p. 1, 10
Subjects
Authors
Lopez, Edward J.
Memoirs
World War II veterans
Item ID
34907AN
Collection
Newspaper Index
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Paul Graf, 90, of New Albany, Indiana, came back to Arcadia to see Santa Anita Park again. He had been based there as a United States Army staff sergeant during World War II, when the track was turned over to the Army Ordnance Corps for training purposes and was officially renamed Camp Santa Anita. Graf said he used to run for exercise on the Anita Chiquita training track, which was eliminated when the Santa Anita Fashion Park was built in the 1970s. Graf had arrived at Camp Santa Anita around November 1942, after the site had already been used as the Japanese Assembly Center. Photo shows Graf holding an issue of Man O' War, a newspaper issued by army personnel at Camp Santa Anita.

https://arcadiahistory.andornot.com/en/permalink/newspaper32550
Newspaper
Pasadena Star News
Date
September 27, 2011
Pages
p. A1, A6
More detail
Newspaper
Pasadena Star News
Date
September 27, 2011
Pages
p. A1, A6
Subjects
Camp Santa Anita
Graf, Paul
Santa Anita Park--1934-1942
United States Army Ordnance Corps
Veterans--World War II
Item ID
32749AN
Collection
Newspaper Index
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The Arcadian Observer. Official paper of the United States Army Balloon School

https://arcadiahistory.andornot.com/en/permalink/subject349
Contents
1. The Arcadian Observer. Official paper of the United States Army Balloon School at Arcadia, California. Vol. 1 #1 August 3, 1918 – Vol. 1 #29 February 15, 1919 (Bound) 2. Official Souvenir & Program Balloon School Circus and the Final Edition of The Arcadian Observer, February 22, 1919.
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Contents
1. The Arcadian Observer. Official paper of the United States Army Balloon School at Arcadia, California. Vol. 1 #1 August 3, 1918 – Vol. 1 #29 February 15, 1919 (Bound)
2. Official Souvenir & Program Balloon School Circus and the Final Edition of The Arcadian Observer, February 22, 1919.
Subjects
The Arcadian Observer. Official paper of the United States Army Balloon School
Location
History Room
Box Number
Box 40
Shelf Number
Shelf B5
Item ID
350AF
Collection
Subject Files
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The Arcadian Observer. Official paper of the United States Army Balloon School

https://arcadiahistory.andornot.com/en/permalink/subject350
Contents
1. The Arcadian Observer. Official paper of the United States Army Balloon School at Arcadia, California. (Miscellaneous single issues) Supplement to The Arcadian Observer, September 1918, was gift from Sierra Madre Public Library on March 17, 2004.
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Contents
1. The Arcadian Observer. Official paper of the United States Army Balloon School at Arcadia, California. (Miscellaneous single issues) Supplement to The Arcadian Observer, September 1918, was gift from Sierra Madre Public Library on March 17, 2004.
Subjects
The Arcadian Observer. Official paper of the United States Army Balloon School
Location
History Room
Box Number
Box 41
Shelf Number
Shelf B5
Item ID
351AF
Collection
Subject Files
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As part of the Veterans History Project, Bob Macy gives an interview to preserve his war stories and experiences. Bob Macy is shown in a photograph with the leather flight jacket he used as a B-24 co-pilot in the 8th Air Force based in England.

https://arcadiahistory.andornot.com/en/permalink/newspaper29072
Newspaper
Pasadena Star News
Date
September 13, 2004
Pages
p. A3
More detail
Newspaper
Pasadena Star News
Date
September 13, 2004
Pages
p. A3
Subjects
Library of Congress
Veterans History Project
Oral History
War Storie
Macy, Bob
Soldiers
Interviews
Item ID
29258AN
Collection
Newspaper Index
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Former Arcadia resident, Chris Wachter, who is an Air Force captain and served in the Iraq War, met with Temple city resident Vernon Isgrig who trained pilots during World War II. Isgrig encouraged Wachter to become a pilot.

https://arcadiahistory.andornot.com/en/permalink/newspaper25502
Newspaper
Pasadena Star News
Date
May 7, 2003
Pages
p. A3
More detail
Newspaper
Pasadena Star News
Date
May 7, 2003
Pages
p. A3
Subjects
Wachter, Chris
Isgrig, Vernon
War - Iraq
Item ID
25701AN
Collection
Newspaper Index
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Photo of General John J. Pershing mingling with a group at Ross Field Balloon School. He is accompanied by other officers and there are a number of young boys eager to greet him. Across photo had been written "Balloon School Training" and "1920" and "General Pershing at Arcadia."

https://arcadiahistory.andornot.com/en/permalink/photographs224
Date
1920
More detail

  1 image

Date
1920
Subjects
Balloon School
Pershing, John J.
Physical Description
9x11 b&w
ID
222
Collection
Photographs
Images
thumbnail
Less detail

Arcadia Vietnam War Monument placed in Arcadia County Park. It is 22,000 pounds. From 1966-1972, 14 U.S. servicemen from Arcadia became casualties of the war in Vietnam. There are 4 plaques on the monument honoring veterans from World War I, World War II, the wars in Korean, Vietnam, and Afghanistan. See also Arcadia Weekly, p. 1, 17, June 2, 2016.

https://arcadiahistory.andornot.com/en/permalink/newspaper34572
Newspaper
Arcadia Weekly
Date
May 26, 2016
Pages
p. 1, 17
More detail
Newspaper
Arcadia Weekly
Date
May 26, 2016
Pages
p. 1, 17
Subjects
Arcadia Vietnam War Monument Memorial
Glasco, Gene
Holidays-Memorial Day
Veterans
Item ID
34764AN
Collection
Newspaper Index
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Congressional Gold Medal of Honor presented to Sierra Madre Nisei soldier Shoso Nomura, age 93. It has been 68 years since Nomura served as a Japanese-American intelligence officer for the U.S. Army in World War II. He was born on Lucky Baldwin's daughter Anita Baldwin's ranch (corner of Foothill Boulevard and Double Drive--known today as Santa Anita Avenue).

https://arcadiahistory.andornot.com/en/permalink/newspaper32855
Newspaper
Arcadia Weekly
Date
March 1, 2012
Pages
p. 1, 6
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Newspaper
Arcadia Weekly
Date
March 1, 2012
Pages
p. 1, 6
Subjects
Kunihiro, Mitsuo
Nomura, Shoso
World War II
Item ID
33052AN
Collection
Newspaper Index
Less detail

Balloon School

https://arcadiahistory.andornot.com/en/permalink/subject32
Contents
1. "Making charts of air currents." Arcadia Journal, June 21, 1919. 2. "Mercury Flights Through Cloudland (1917)." Advertising brochure for sightseeing flights. One of the attractions was the Balloon School. Copied from the original owned by Sid Platford. 3. "Veteran recalls balloon field." Ar…
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Contents
1. "Making charts of air currents." Arcadia Journal, June 21, 1919.
2. "Mercury Flights Through Cloudland (1917)." Advertising brochure for sightseeing flights. One of the attractions was the Balloon School. Copied from the original owned by Sid Platford.
3. "Veteran recalls balloon field." Arcadia Tribune, July 1, 1976, page 1.
4. "Observation balloons ruled air." Arcadia Tribune, August 16, 1973.
5. " 'Eyes of Army' look back." Los Angeles Times, September 30, 1966, Part II, page 1.
6. "Veteran balloon pilots." Arcadia News-Post, September 29, 1966.
7. Goddard correspondence, March 22, 1965
8. "Gasbaggers reunion." Arcadia Tribune, October 2, 1966.
9. "Eyes trained at Arcadia." Branding Iron, December 1962, reprint.
10. "Eyes trained at Arcadia," by J.H. Richardson, in manuscript form.
11. "Ross field wrecking rushed." Copies from Alton Green scrapbook.
12. Balloon School personal account. 5 typed sheet.
13. "C-2 is expected." Arcadia Journal, September 23, 1922.
14. "History of Fort Omaha Balloon School. Copies from Omaha newspaper.
15. "Show Ross Field return secured by Hoeppel." Arcadia Tribune, June 2, 1963.
16. "Balloon corps veterans plan." Arcadia Tribune, September 18, 1966.
17. "Earlier days in Los Angeles, about Woodrow Wilson, carrier pigeon." News clip, April 7, 1974.
18. Corps member Cathcart's letter. June 30, 1964.
19. "Earlier days in Los Angeles, about first all night observation trip." June 1969.
20. Photos showing buildings, hospital, and balloons in the air. Arcadian Observer, December 21, 1918, page 19, 31, 60.
21. "Panorama of our new school." Arcadian Observer, August 3, 1918.
22. "The U.S. Army Balloon School." Arcadian Observer, September 1918, supplement.
23. "Swimming pool and clubhouse." Arcadian Observer, September 1918, supplement.
24. Correspondence from Akron-Summit County Public Library. Letter in reply to Balloon School information request, June 5, 1978.
25. Correspondence from the Department of the Army. Letter in reply to Balloon School information request, June 13, 1978.
26. Correspondence between Donald G. Cathcart and the City of Arcadia, 1964.
27. Completion Report Number 1 covering construction of Army Balloon School, October 1, 1918. 40 pages. Purchased from National Archives in 1978.
28. "Arcadia man recalls ballooning days." (Rudolph C. Shosted) Monrovia Journal, April 11, 1974. (Also in Arcadia Tribune, April 11, 1974, p. A2)
29. "Colonel W.N. Hensley, Jr., commanding." Arcadian Observer, September 1918, page 3.
30. "Airships tracked enemy from Arcadia balloon base." Arcadia Tribune, January 26, 1978.
31. Copies of photos with designation of various sections of base.
32. "Major Max Fleischman." Arcadian Observer, October 5, 1918.
33. "The Arcadia Balloon School, 1918." Western States Jewish Historical Quarterly, October 1980. Photo with lengthy caption.
34. "Ross Field does fadeout." Los Angeles Times, November 15, 1933, Part I , page 6.
35. "Close blind pig at once!" Hensley blind pigs is slang for speak easy or illegal operation, and referred to a need to clean them up if Balloon School is to be here. Arcadia Journal, June 8, 1918.
36. "Arcadia will be aircraft center." Arcadia Journal, September 28, 1918.
37. Correspondence regarding archival holdings on Balloon School in National Archives, June 16, 1978.
38. The first all night observation trip.
39. "Au revoir Col. Hensley." Arcadian Observer, September 1918, page 6.
40. Recollection of Mr. John Milton Huston, stationed here at 21.
41. "The post band." Arcadia Observer, November 9, 1918, page 6.
42. "Balloons re-enter the wars." News clip, October 7, 1951, possibly from an Omaha publication.
43. "Airborne 'elephants' once inhabited Arcadia's skies." Fedco Reporter, May 1988, by J.D. Carroll.
44. "Observer." Arcadian Observer, September 1918, page 19.
45. "New commander in charge of Arcadia." Arcadian Observer, January 4, 1919, page 8.
46. "First American Balloon Officer to die in action." (Lt. Cleo J. Ross) Arcadian Observer, November 2, 1918, page 27.
47. "Two balloon men killed by bomb." Arcadia Journal, September 28, 1918.
48. "Balloon School awaits on order." Arcadia Journal, March 30, 1918.
49. Sample of letterhead stationery from Balloon School.
50. "L.A. Scene - The City then and now." Balloon School/Arcadia County Park. Los Angeles Times, December 20, 1993, page B3.
51. "Officers to have a camp at Arcadia." Temple Times, June 26, 1924.
52. "Pioneer 'Birdman' recalls balloon exploits in Pasadena area." Arcadia man won fame in flying dirigible. Pasadena Star News, March 16, 1952.
53. "Ross Field use known June 1." News clip, May 8, 1929.
54. " Ross Field bill voted by houses." News clip, March 4, 1933.
55. "Ross Field Parks Project near vote by County leaders." Pasadena Star News, May 14, 1933.
56. "Ross Field purchase is urged on Council." News clip, May 18, 1933.
57. "Ross Field planned to become new park as County gets deed." News clip, August 1, 1935.
58. "Ross Field betterment approved." News clip, August 2, 1935.
59. "Ross Field to harbor zeppelin and Ross Field hangar leased as zeppelin assembling center." News clip, no date.
60. "Air planes gather at Ross Field for zeppelin activities." News clip, May 22, 1929. "Pilots will be trained at Ross." News clip, May 22, 1929. "Light tests on way at Ross site." News clip, May 18, 1929.
61. "U.S. returns Ross Field as sports center." News clip, June 11, 1935.
62. "Army School Ross Field Project." News clip, June 24, 1930.
63. "Park agreed at balloon field site." News clip, July 3, 1935.
64. "$55,655 price decision near on Ross Field." News clip, May 17, 1933. "Senate passes Arcadia Bill." Los Angeles Times, 1933.
65. "Set date for zeppelin to take air." News clip, May 28, 1929.
66. "Dirigible's keel laid at Ross." News clip, May 20, 1929.
67. "Group backs Ross Field measure." News clip, January 24, 1933.
68. "Senate passes balloon camp land transfer." News clip, February 10, 1933.
69. 1996 Heritage Calendar by Chino Valley Bank. Includes photos of U.S. Army Balloon Corp station.
70. "Today and yesterday of the Arcadia Balloon School Field." Pasadena Star News, July 4, 1931.
71. Copies of photos of Ray Walters, stationed at the Balloon School. Photo and article regarding the first annual picnic, June 1938.
72. Copy of photo #186.
73. "Army's biggest balloon school coming here." Los Angeles Times, March 13, 1916, Part II, page 1.
74. First draft chapter on Ross Field, by Arcadia resident John Irwin.
75. "Balloon Work Conditions Better, Y.M.C.A. Outpost is Established at Stocker Field, Officers Will Play Ball Tonight at Balloon Camp." Pasadena Star News, July 18, 1918.
76. World War I Heroes Remembered : Cleo J. Ross. Written by Ken Hudnut. (Internet article)
77. California Aviation History : The Army Balloon School, Ross Field, Arcadia, California, by Richard DesChenes. From the California State Military Department, California Military Museum. http:www.militarymuseum.org/BalloonSch.html
78. "Pasadena Public Library does bit for soldiers." Collection of books is provided for the military camp of the Seventh California regiment of guardsmen at Arcadia. Pasadena Star News, May 19, 1917, p. 13.
79. Overseas Army nurse, Grace Thompson, has been assigned to the post hospital at the United States Army Balloon School at Arcadia. Pasadena Star News, May 21, 1919, p. 11
80. "Heads For Camp in City." Thirty officers arrive from Fort Dodge, Iowa to take balloon duty in Arcadia. Many live in Arcadia. Lieutenant Colonel W.N. Hensley will host a dinner for his staff at Hotel Huntington. Pasadena Star News, Monday April 1, 1918.
81. "Tents Erected at Balloon Campsite." Seven tents for thirty men from the United States Army signal corps have been erected on the site of the new balloon station on the Baldwin Ranch in Arcadia. Pasadena Star News, April 4, 1918.
82. "May Give Up Camp Plans." Rumors from Washington say balloon station is not needed, decision will come soon, war department to meet with Los Angeles representatives. Pasadena Star News, April 9, 1918.
83. "Sale of Ross Field is Vetoed." War Department's wire stops sale of Ross Field to any private individual or municipality, government will reserve tract for other training. Pasadena Star News, April 13, 1927.
84. "Fire Plan Revision is Foresters' Job." Forest guards, patrolmen and registrars to complete training at Ross Field in Arcadia before fire season begins. Pasadena Star News clipping April 24, 1929.
85. "Forest fire work to be given trial. Rangers to carry out training program." The annual forest rangers' training school will be in session for two days at Ross Field, Arcadia. Pasadena Star News clipping, April 30, 1929.
86. Gallery Guide to Ruth and Charles Gilb Arcadia Historical Museum Exhibit, November 2005-January 2006. Exhibit called "War Department, Department of Military Aeronautics, Army Balloon School." Contains history of Balloon School.
87. Named "Ross Field" for Lieutenant Cleo J. Ross, killed in France. The Atlanta Constitution, May 23, 1919.
Subjects
Balloon School
Item ID
32AF
Collection
Subject Files
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Decorated vet to celebrate 100th birthday. U.S. Air Force vetean Edward Lopez was a fighter pilot in both World War II and the Korean War. Born in Los Angeles and living in Arcadia for more than 50 years, he is one of the last living members of the Air Force's 365th Fighter-Bomber Group known as The Hell Hawks, a reserve fighter squadron in the U.S. Marine Corps. See hard copy in VF People.

https://arcadiahistory.andornot.com/en/permalink/newspaper36505
Newspaper
Pasadena Star News
Date
July 15, 2023
Pages
p. A1, A4
More detail
Newspaper
Pasadena Star News
Date
July 15, 2023
Pages
p. A1, A4
Subjects
Centenarians
Lopez, Edward J.
Collection
Newspaper Index
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Interview with author Brad Pearson who wrote the book The Eagles of Heart Mountain. He tackles the injustice of Japanese-American incarceration through the exploits of a World War II camp football team. Article mentions many evacuees were detained at Santa Anita racetrack in Arcadia before being shipped out.

https://arcadiahistory.andornot.com/en/permalink/newspaper35880
Newspaper
Pasadena Star News
Date
January 10, 2021
Pages
p. C7
More detail
Newspaper
Pasadena Star News
Date
January 10, 2021
Pages
p. C7
Subjects
Authors
Football
Japanese-Americans
Pearson, Brad
Santa Anita Assembly Center for the Japanese
World War II
Collection
Newspaper Index
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20 records – page 1 of 1.