Clayton Kelly Gross (November 30, 1920 – January 10, 2016), from Walla Walla, Washington,[1] was a Army Air Forces World War II Ace who shot down 6 enemy planes over Europe.[2] Gross also flew planes in the D-Day invasion of Normany, France both on June 5 and 6, 1944.[3] He was a recipient of the American Fighter Aces Congressional Gold Medal,[4] the Distinguished Flying Cross and the Silver Star. He flew in 105 combat missions during WWII.[5]
Clayton Kelly Gross | |
|---|---|
_WWII_Ace.jpeg) Clayton Kelly Gross 1944 in his P-51 "Live Bait" | |
| Birth name | Clayton Kelly Gross |
| Nickname(s) | "Kelly" |
| Born | November 30, 1920 Walla Walla, Washington |
| Died | January 10, 2016 (aged 95) Sparks, Nevada |
| Allegiance |  United States |
| Service | Army Air Forces Corps |
| Years of service | 1941-1945 |
| Rank | Captain |
| Unit | 354th Fighter Group |
| Battles / wars | D-Day |
| Awards | |
| Relations | Wife: Ramona |
Education
edit- Lewis & Clark High School (1938)[6]
- Gonzaga Prep (1938-1941)[6]
- Aviation Cadet January (1941-1942)[6]
- University of Southern California and Loyola University, B. S. 1954[6]
- University of Oregon, D.M.D. 1958[6]
Career
edit
In 1941, Clayton Kelly Gross was a 20-year-old aviation cadet with the Army Air Forces. He received his commission and the rank of second lieutenant in September 1942.[5]
In 1943 Gross was assigned to the 354th Fighter Group and began flying P-51 Mustangs.[5] from Britain. He became an ace with six confirmed aerial kills, including a jet-powered Me 262.[3]
D-Day
edit
On the night of June 5, 1944, the night before the D-Day Invasion of France, Gross participated in a secret mission escorting gliders behind enemy lines at Normandy, France.[3] On June 6, 1944, the date of D-Day, Gross flew a P-51 Mustang he named "Live Bait". His superior told him to fly low and attract enemy fire. Gross joked that he would be live bait.[3]
In 1944 Gross was on a bombing mission over Berlin when he engaged Bf 109. An allied P-47 Accidentally shot Gross's P-51 and the 50 caliber bullet pushed the back of the cockpit into Gross's head. He flew 105 combat missions.[5]
In 2006 he wrote and published his memoirs entitled: Live Bait: WWII Memoirs of an "Undefeated Fighter Ace".[3]
In 2014 Gross was one of a handful of Aces who attended a White House ceremony with President Barack Obama to sign the H.R. 685, the American Fighter Aces Congressional Gold Medal Act, into law.[7][3]
Affiliations
edit- President of the American Fighter Aces Association (2015)[2]
Awards
edit- Congressional Gold Medal (2015)[4][2]
- Silver Star[5][N 1]
- Distinguished Flying Cross[5]
- Air Medal[5]
- Distinguished Units Citation[5]
Personal
editGross was born in Walla Walla, Washington, on Jan. 20, 1920, and he attended high school and was raised in Spokane, Washington. His first wife was named Gwendolyn Yeo, and together they had two children—a son, Mike; and a daughter, Mary.[1] After Gwen's death, Gross married Ramona Bettendorf. Gross was a career dentist in Vancouver, Washington.[3] He retired in 1998. He died in Sparks, Nevada, on Jan. 10, 2016.[6]
See also
editReferences
edit- ^ a b "Clayton Kelly Gross". Legacy.com. Legacy.com. Retrieved 24 July 2020.
- ^ a b c Vogt, Tom (8 February 2016). "Off Beat: WWII pilot one of the faces of America's fighter aces". The Columbian. Retrieved 22 July 2020.
- ^ a b c d e f g Vogt, Tom (4 June 2014). "WWII fighter ace from Vancouver honored". The Columbian. Retrieved 24 July 2020.
- ^ a b 113th Congress. "H.R.685 - American Fighter Aces Congressional Gold Medal Act". Congress.gov. Library of Congress. Retrieved 22 July 2020.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link) - ^ a b c d e f g h "Ace Clayton Gross Recalls The Craziest Friendly Fire Story You've Ever Heard". World War Wings. 4 June 2014. Retrieved 24 July 2020.
- ^ a b c d e f Gross, Kelly (27 March 2006). Live Bait: WWII Memoirs of an "Undefeated Fighter Ace" (1st ed.). Portland Oregon: Inkwater Press. ISBN 978-1592991860.
- ^ "American Fighter Aces to Hold 50th Reunion". Museum of Flight. The Museum of Flight. Retrieved 22 July 2020.
- ^ "Clayton Kelly Gross". Military Times. Sightline Media Group. Retrieved 24 July 2020.
Bibliography
edit- Gross, Kelly (2006). Live Bait: WWII Memoirs of an "Undefeated Fighter Ace". Fallbrook, California: Inkwater Press. ISBN 978-1592991860.
Further reading
edit- Hammel, Eric (2010) [1992]. Aces Against Japan. New York: Pocket Books. ISBN 9781890988081.
- Hammel, Eric (1998). Aces in Combat: The American Aces Speak. Vol. 5. Pacifica, California: Pacifica Military History. ISBN 0935553614.
- Tillman, Barrett (1996). Hellcat Aces of World War 2. London: Osprey Publishing. ISBN 1855325969.
- Tillman, Barrett (1979). Hellcat: The F6F in World War II (1st ed.). Annapolis, Maryland: Naval Institute Press. ISBN 978-1557509918.
Notes
edit- ^ "Silver Star for gallantry in action against the enemy as a P-51 Mustang Fighter Pilot of the 355th Fighter Squadron, 354th Fighter Group, NINTH Air Force, in action against the enemy in aerial combat in the European Theater of Operations during World War II. His gallant actions and dedicated devotion to duty, without regard for his own life, were in keeping with the highest traditions of military service and reflect great credit upon himself, his unit, and the United States Army Air Forces."[8]