John K. GROSS

Source : Andrea

11 July 1920 

Clark, Clark coutny, SOUTH DAKOTA

Parents : Wilhem J & Katharina Kleinsasser GROSS

Siblings : William K, Jake K, Edna K, Henry K & Anna K

Source : Andy

A-26 Invader type C s/n 44-35303

Macr 14863

Mission: Transport to the USA, stop in Marrakech, Morocco
Take-off: Marignane
Crash: After having traveled about ten kilometers after take-off, the aircraft appeared out of control and drifted vertically until hitting the sea

Map of Rhône American Cemetery

Source : Andrea

 John K. GROSS was the fifth child of a 6 children family which loosed their father in 1928, they then all started to help their mother out to keep the farm. Despite this hard work John continued to frequent school and even went to college later. He then became teacher and mooved out to Antelope township, McPherson county for work.
He enlisted few months after Pearl Harbor attack in february 1942, he integrated the US Army Air Corps among bomber crews.

While training at Chanute Field he did specialized on radio, flying and navigation instruments handling.

He served and flyed over Europe for the whole war duration without getting injured a single time. He had for habit to write to his family about english farmers's life and work and how different it is compared to home.

Once the conflict came to an end in Europe he stayed in France until august before taking off from Marignane aboard a A-26 "Invader".

The light bombers formation was supposed to fly to Marrakech to make a stop before crossing the Atlantic and finally get back home.
But after few minutes of flying and climbing up to 8000 feet the aircraft became and uncontrollable and dived right into the sea. No crew member has been able to bail out, and all of them still missing.

Source : Andy

John K. GROSS draft card
(source : ancestry.com)