John H. Ross
War II photo reconnaissance pilot
Died when: 95 years 62 days (1142 months)Star Sign: Gemini
John Henry Ross (June 8, 1918 – August 9, 2013) was a decorated World War II pilot who flew 96 missions for the 22nd Reconnaissance Squadron as part of the 7th Reconnaissance Group in the 8th Air Force.
Ross flew the Lockheed P-38 Lightning as a photo-recon pilot out of RAF Mount Farm in England during the war.
He received 11 medals and 2 Distinguished Flying Crosses.Ross' missions, which were integral to Allied victory at the Battle of the Bulge are detailed in the book, Eyes of the Eighth: A Story of the 7th Photographic Reconnaissance Group, 1942-1945.
On three separate missions, Ross' plane was shot down over the Atlantic Ocean and the North Sea.He also flew reconnaissance for Operation Aphrodite missions, which utilized radio-controlled bombers as PGM.
Additional to reconnaissance missions to plot bombing runs, he also flew missions to photograph damage assessment.One of his photographs of the Cologne Cathedral still standing amongst the rubble is credited to Ross in several books.