Missing information?

Do you have any additional information you would like to share about a soldier?

Submit

Personal info

Full name
ROSS, Charles F
Date of birth
13 July 1924
Age
19
Place of birth
Des Moines, Polk County, Iowa
Hometown
Vernon Parish, Louisiana

Military service

Service number
18171319
Rank
Staff Sergeant
Function
Radio Operator
Unit
733rd Bombardment Squadron,
453rd Bombardment Group, Heavy
Awards
Purple Heart,
Air Medal

Death

Status
Missing in Action
Date of death
22 February 1944
Place of death
Lake Volkerak, 15 km northwest of Steenbergen, The Netherlands

Grave

Cemetery
American War Cemetery Margraten
Walls of the Missing

Immediate family

Members
Charles H. Ross (father)
Francis M. (Madron) Ross (mother)
Nancy Ross (sister)
William Ross (brother)

Plane data

Serial number
41-28615
Data
Type: B-24H
Nickname: Ginnie
Destination: Gotha, Germany
Mission: Bombing of the industrial area
MACR: 2895

More information

S/Sgt Charles F. Ross graduated from Kilgore High school (Texas) and attended Kilgore College.

He volunteered for the Air Corps of the Army of the United States in Lafayette, Louisiana on 3 November 1942. He was sent overseas in December 1943.

177 B-24s are dispatched but they are recalled when 100 miles (160 km) inland. Since they were over Germany, they sought targets of opportunity but strong winds drove the bombers over The Netherlands and their bombs hit Enschede, Arnhem, Nijmegen and Deventer.

The aircraft was seen to be attacked hit by enemy aircraft and went down, probably by Hauptmann Herbert Huppertz of JG2. It hit the water and exploded. No parachutes were seen.

Only the remains of S/Sgt Richard C. Anderson were recovered. The other nine crew members are still missing in action and are remembered at the Walls of the Missing at Margraten Cemetery.

Source of information: Raf Dyckmans, Peter Schouteten, Terry Hirsch, www.wwiimemorial.com, www.archives.gov, The Times - 20 May 1945

Photo source: Peter Schouteten, The Times - 20 May 1945