Grady Monroe Shelton was born 24 Sep 1924 in Surry County, North Carolina. He was the son of John Quincy Shelton (1904-1993) and Maude Frances Goad (1905-1992). In 1930, the family with 4 children were living in Mount Airy, Surry County, North Carolina with John’s parents. John was employed as an operator at a filling station. In 1940, the family with 4 children were living in Mount Airy, Surry County, North Carolina where John was a mechanic in a garage.

Per the draft registration dated 19 Dec 1942, Grady was 6-foot tall, weighed about 145 pounds, had blue eyes, brown hair and a light complexion. He had a scar on his left eye and a scar on his right hand. His mother was the contact person and they were living in Mount Airy. Grady was a student at Flat Rock School.

Grandy was drafted into the service. On 18 May 1943, he entered the service at Camp Croft in South Carolina. He served in 380th Bomb Squadron, 310th Bomb Group as an aerial engineer and gunner on a B-25. He went overseas in Aug 1944 and was stationed at Corsica Island, off the coast of Italy. He had made a total of 62 missions and only had a few more before receiving his furlough back to the states.

On 4 Apr 1945, Grady was on the B-25J, #43-27737 aircraft, nicknamed “Bettsie” on a bombing mission. The target was Drauburg Railroad Bridge in Austria. The aircraft B-25-J, #43-27552, nicknamed “Pretzel” collied with Bettsie while getting back into formation after a break away from the target. Pretzel’s left wing was torn away causing the aircraft to go into a steep dive, crashing into the ground (in Italy), killing all 6 crew members. Bettsie was badly damaged, but the pilot was able to maintaine control of it long enough for some of the crew to bail out before it crashed into the ground. Lt Oliver, Lt Syfert and SSgt Grady Shelton were killed in the crash. Four surviving crew members were captured by the Germans and held as prisoners of war.

His body was returned to the states from Mirandola, Italy. On 10 Mar 1949, he was reburied in Arlington National Cemetery (section 34, grave 4664).

SSgt Grady Monroe Shelton, we thank you for your dedication, service and sacrifice for our country. You are not forgotten.

This story is part of the Stories Behind the Stars project (see https://www.storiesbehindthestars.org/). This is a national effort of volunteers to write the stories of all 400,000+ of the US WWII fallen here on Fold3. Can you help write these stories? These stories will be accessible via smartphone app at any war memorial or cemetery.

If you have any details, photos, or corrections for this story, please email me by clicking on the words “Added by:” at the bottom of this story.

Kathy Harmon- Contributing Author, Stories Behind the Stars

Sources –

U.S., World War II Draft Cards Young Men, 1940-1947 - Ancestry.com

U.S., National Cemetery Interment Control Forms, 1928-1962 - Ancestry.com

1940 United States Federal Census - Ancestry.com

1930 United States Federal Census - Ancestry.com

Mid-air collision Accident North American B-25J Mitchell 43-27737, 04 Apr 1945 (aviation-safety.net)

Grady M Shelton