John Douglas Ross was born on September 1, 1923, the son of John James Ross and Martha Anne (nee Maxwell) Ross, of 252 Emma Street, Sarnia. Both parents, John James and Martha Anne, were originally from England. John had a sister, Jean, who would also serve, joining the forces in July of 1942 as a member of Canadian Women’s Army Corps. She would go overseas on the same transport as her brother. John Douglas was single at the time he enlisted with the Royal Canadian Air Force in February of 1943. He went overseas one year later in February 1944, and received promotion to the rank of flying officer in October of 1944. He would become a member of RCAF #426 Thunderbird squadron “On Wings of Fire”, attaining the rank of Flying Officer-Navigator.
On April 25, 1945, John Douglas Ross was part of a crew aboard Halifax aircraft NP820 that was over the sea when it was in a mid-air collision with a #408 squadron aircraft. They were about one hour from the target of Wangerooge, Germany. Perishing with Flying Officer-Navigator John Douglas Ross were P/O.s Stanley J. Teskey (of Sarnia), J.C. Tuplin, D.R. Curzon and E.W. Hicks; Sgt. R. Roberts (RAF); and one other RAF member of the crew. This was the last operation of the war for the #426 Squadron. The collision was seen by F/L. Allan Ross of #408 Squadron. Two weeks after John Ross’ death, the war in Europe would end. John Douglas Ross would later be officially listed as, Previously reported missing after air operations, now for official purposes, presumed dead, overseas (Germany). Twenty-one year old John Douglas Ross has no known grave. His name is inscribed on the Runnymede War Memorial, Surrey, United Kingdom, Panel 279.
SOURCES: A, B, C, D, E, F, G, J, L, M, N, 2C, 2D