Dale L Gross

    Dale L Gross was born in Iowa in 1925.  He entered the Service from Black Hawk, Iowa, (CP Dodge Herrold, Iowa) on 17 June, 1943.  Dale was married when he entered the service.

    He trained as an Airial Gunner and flew Combat (at LEAST 35 Combat Missions) as a Tail Gunner on the B-25 Mitchell Medium Bomber, with the 310thBG, the 428th BS in the MTO.  He was Shot-down on a Combat Mission 10 March, 1945 in the B-25 J #42-27529, The SILVER SLIPPER.  The Mission was to Ora, Italy.  The ship took a direct hit immediately after "Bombs Away" and the gear dropped down, the engine caught fire, several chutes were seen....  the ship slowed and eventually a wing fell off and it spun into the ground.   Although Dale was a Tail-Gunner, he was flying as the toggler-Bombardier on this Mission.     Dale had injuries from the direct hit or the bail-out and was captured by the Germans.   He died of his injuries as a POW on 23 April, 1945, while being detained in Germany.     Dale left behind his parents, his wife Marilyn and 2 children, a daughter, Nancy Lee and an infant son Michael, born between Feb. and Sept. 1945, he may have not yet known that his wife had a son.  Dale was just 20 years old.  Dale's death date is the same as the Ship-Loss as the actual date is not known.  He rests at the American Battle Monument at Florence, Italy.   Dale was awarded the Purple Heart and the Air Medal with 5 Oak Leaf Clusters.