Billy Dean Gross was born on February 15, 1924, in Coshocton, Ohio. He served in the 839th Bomber Squadron, 487th Bomber Group, Heavy as a Technical Sergeant and Engineer on the B-24H 42-52624 during World War II.

The 487th Bomb Group was based at Army Air Forces Station 137 near Lavenham, Suffolk, England, and was part of the 8th U.S. Army Air Force in Europe. On June 7, 1944, Lt Schwab's crew flew B-24H 42-52624 'BoxCar' on the 487th Bomb Group mission to bomb a tactical target at Angers, France, in support of the Normandy Invasion. Clouds obscured the target and the Lead Squadron bombed an alternate target, the Loire River bridge at Montjean, France, about 20 miles west of Angers. The Schwab crew flew in the High Squadron and bombed a railroad marshalling yard at Chateaubriant, France, about 50 miles northwest of Angers. Lt Smith and six of his crewmates were killed in action when their aircraft was shot down by flak near Rennes, France on the return from the mission. The aircraft broke up and crashed at La Rabine, just west of Bruz, France. Three men survived and became prisoners of war (including TSGT Gross).

Billy died on February 24, 1968, at the age of 44 and is now buried in the South Lawn Cemetery, Coshocton, Coshocton County, Ohio, USA.

Source of information: www.findagrave.com