Second Lieutenant John Minch Baum, (1918-2000) was born in Brooklyn, New York on May 9, 1918 to Harvey A. and Gladys Baum. Upon graduation from Cliffside High School, (Cliffside, New Jersey) in 1934, Lieutenant Baum enrolled in College at the University of Pennsylvania. He completed two years of schooling before his mother passed away and he was forced to quit and start work.

Lieutenant Baum entered the service in July of 1943 and attended flight school in Camden, South Carolina. Upon graduation, he was selected to attend Navy Flight Training at Pensacola Naval Air Station where he earned his "gold wings" on February 8, 1944. He then shipped out to the South Pacific where he joined the Second Emergency Rescue Squadron and flew the venerable OA-10A Catalina. He stayed with the Second ERS until he got out of the service in December 1945.

After the war was over, Mr. Baum worked for his father (for about a year) at the Atlantic & Pacific Tea Company which was a large grocery chain. He then began farming in Buford, South Carolina and arranged for large numbers of potatoes to be shipped down from Canada. He grew potatoes in Hastings, Florida (1958 - 1959) until a poor crop forced him to move down to south Florida.

Mr. Baum became a produce broker, starting his own business (Atlantic Brokers) in 1973. This family business is still in operation today and is run by his son. John Baum passed away on September 25, 2000 in Neptune Beach, Florida. His wife Savena still resides there today.

Back to "Roster"...
1

1

1

 2nd Emergency Rescue Squadron - All Rights Reserved