Gross, Stewart (1921-2013)

https://reflections.mndigital.org/catalog/stc:9840#/kaltura_audio

Biographical Information: Stewart Gross was born in New England, North Dakota, on November 9, 1921. He moved to Minnesota when he was less than one-year old. He graduated from St. Cloud Technical High School in 1939 and enlisted in the U.S. Army Air Corp. Gross served in both the Pacific and European Theatres as a navigator/bombardier, first with the 20th Fighter Pursuit Group and 14th Fighter Group (China) in 1942-1943, and later in 1944 with the 321st Bomber Group (Italy, Corsica) and the 10th Bomb Division. Near the end of the war, he was transferred to the 15th Air Force. After the war, Gross re-enlisted and was stationed first in Garden City, Kansas, then later in Alaska with the 7th Weather Group. Gross left the military in May 1948. Gross passed away on December 25, 2013.

Transcript Summary: Stewart Gross described his experience as a World War II veteran of the U.S. Army Air Corp. After graduating high school, Gross had hoped to go to West Point, but did not get the Congressional appointment. Instead, he enlisted in the U.S. Army Air Crop because at that time West Point took 100 individuals per year out of the regular army. Gross ended up as an alternate. Gross enlisted into pilots school, but “washed out” after about four months. He then trained as a radio operator, in aerial gunnery, and basic navigation. In early 1942 he was sent to China. Gross was stationed in Chungking under Major General Chennault and was initially part of the Chinese/American provisional wing, where bomber groups would include both American and Chinese soldiers. His missions were primarily interdiction, meant to disrupt the Japanese supply lines. Gross discussed the chronic shortages of fuel, food, medical supplies and ammunition, and the difficult living conditions. While in China, Gross was shot down twice, once by anti-aircraft and the second time by Japanese fighters. During that second mission there were numerous casualties in his bomber group. Seven of the twelve aircraft were lost. Gross left China in November 1943, having flown 85-90 missions. In November 1944, after a year stationed in the U.S., Gross was sent to Italy to join the 321st Bomb Group in Corsica and then was moved to the 10th Bomb Division as a fighter bomber vector near Florence, Italy. In the spring of 1945 Gross was wounded during a supply run in Yugoslavia when his plane was hit, killing the co-pilot. After the war in Europe ended, Gross was transferred to the 15th Air Force. He re-enlisted and was stationed first in Garden City, Kansas, and later in Alaska. Gross left the military in May 1948. In addition to describing his training and military missions, including the danger of being trapped in a burning plane as a turret gunner, Gross also described life and living conditions while stationed in China, attitudes toward the Chinese people, and his difficulties working with those in command.

Interview by David Overy

Includes archival material