Thomas Baron

Thomas Ronald "Tom" Baron (c. 1938 – 27 April 1967)[1] was a quality control and safety inspector for North American Aviation (NAA), when it was the primary contractor to build the Apollo command module.[2]

For other people named Thomas Baron, see Thomas Baron (disambiguation).

Biography

Baron was born in Wilkes-Barre.[3] and attended Liberty High School, Bethlehem.[3]

Baron was initially employed by the US air force, and stationed at Eglin Air Force Base.[3] He was later hired as a quality control inspector with North American Aviation, the prime NASA contractor for construction of the Apollo spaceship.[3]

Baron's report

Baron compiled a 169-page report critical of safety standards at North American Aviation, and leaked his report to the media.[4] After NAA learned of this, they fired him.

After the Apollo 1 fire Baron wrote a 275-page report on NASA safety protocol violations, which he gave to Rep. Olin E. Teague's investigation at Cape Kennedy, Florida, on April 21, 1967.[5]

The chairman of the NASA Oversight Committee claimed that Baron had made a valuable contribution to the Apollo fire probe, but that he had been "overzealous".[6]

Death

Six days after his testimony, Baron was killed instantly, along with his wife and stepdaughter, when a train crashed into their car near their home in Florida.[1][7] Baron's death, which was witnessed by a woman, was later ruled as an accident, with no suspicion of foul play.

References
  1. Garber, Steve (January 27, 2010). "Chapter 9". Apollo-1 (204). NASA. Retrieved September 22, 2010.
  2. "Source Notes: Chapter 18: The Fire That Seared the Spaceport". NASA. Retrieved September 22, 2010.
  3. "3 in Ex-Bethlehem Family Killed". The Morning Call. 30 April 1967. Retrieved 20 November 2018.
  4. "Report of Apollo 204 Review Board" (PDF). NASA History. NASA. Retrieved 21 November 2018.
  5. "Report of Apollo 204 Review Board" (PDF). NASA History. NASA. Retrieved 21 November 2018.
  6. Daytona Beach Morning Journal, May 4, 1967.
  7. "Baron Report (1965-1966)". history.nasa.gov. Retrieved 2008-12-15.
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