Donald Henry Ross

Passions

Vocation

Notable

American military, a Major General of the U.S. Air Force. Ross went from enlisted pilot to become an officer, and during his distinguished military career, he has been the recipient of the numerous awards including, among others, the Distinguished Flying Cross, the Bronze Star Medal and a Purple Heart. Ross attended high school in Huntington Park, California, and in 1940, while still a student, he began piloting light aircraft. In 1941, he joined the Royal Air Force and he was sent to England in April 1942 where he was trained on the Spitfire. In September of that year, he transferred to the U.S. Army Air Forces where he was commissioned a second lieutenant. After transferring to the 357th Fighter Group in December 1943, he embarked on his second long-range bombing mission. Pieces of a plane that he had shot down hit Ross’s P-51, forcing him to bail out. He was captured near Leipzig, German, and sent to a prison camp where he remained until the end of the war. In July 1945, he returned to the United States, became a member of the Inactive Reserve and got a job as a civilian pilot in Alaska. In July 1946, Ross returned to active duty status, and in 1947, entered the University of Southern California where he earned his Bachelor of Science degree in industrial management, 1953. He spent the 1950s at various duty stations around the U.S. before being assigned as director of operations at Headquarters Second Air Division in Vietnam from January 1963 to June 1964. After returning to the U.S., he completed the National War College in Washington, D.C. and earned his Masters in international affairs from George Washington University in 1965. He took command of the 479th Tactical Fighter Wing at George Air Force Base in February 1966, and by July 1968 he had been promoted to director of Special Projects in Washington, D.C. His promotion to Major General occurred on 3/01/1972, with date of rank of 8/01/1968. Ross retired on 9/01/1974 and became assistant director at the Defense Supply Agency in Alexandria, VA.