Mac Ross facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Mac Ross
|
|
|---|---|
Mac Ross
|
|
| Native name |
Mac Ross
|
| Birth name | Mac Ross |
| Born | June 12, 1912 Selma, Alabama |
| Died | July 10, 1944 (aged 32) Provincia di Foggia, Puglia, Italy |
| Plot J, Row 15, Grave 70 |
Sicily-Rome American Cemetery and Memorial
|
| Allegiance | United States of America |
| Service/ |
United States Army Air Force |
| Years of service | 1941–1944 |
| Rank | Captain |
| Unit | 332nd Fighter Group |
| Battles/wars | 50 combat missions in the European Theater |
| Awards | |
| Spouse(s) | Abbie (Nee) Voorhies |
| Relations |
|
Mac Ross (born June 12, 1912 – died July 10, 1944) was a brave pilot in the United States Army Air Forces during World War II. He was one of the famous Tuskegee Airmen. These were the first African American military pilots in the U.S. armed forces.
Mac Ross was a leader. He commanded the 100th Fighter Squadron and helped manage the 332nd Fighter Group. He was one of the first five African American combat fighter pilots in U.S. history. This made him and the other four pilots very important. They showed everyone that African Americans could be excellent pilots.
Contents
Early Life and School
Mac Ross was born on June 12, 1912, in a countryside area near Selma, Alabama. His parents were Eddie Samuel Ross and Willie B. Collins Ross. He had eight brothers and sisters.
In the late 1920s, his family moved to Dayton, Ohio. They wanted a safer place to live and better opportunities for their children. Mac Ross went to Roosevelt High School. After that, he studied at West Virginia State University. He graduated in 1940 with a degree in mechanical arts. While in college, he was part of the Alpha Phi Alpha fraternity. He also worked at a metal factory called GHR Foundry.
On June 3, 1943, Mac Ross married Abbie Voorhies. She was a U.S. Army lieutenant and a nurse. Abbie worked at the Tuskegee airfield, which is where she met Mac. She was still alive in 2019 at 104 years old. She was the oldest living member of the Tuskegee unit.
Becoming a Pilot
.jpg)
Mac Ross's college, West Virginia State University, had a special program. It was called the Civilian Pilot Training Program (CPTP). This program helped more Americans learn to fly. It was created in 1939 because of the war happening in Europe. Mac Ross's father paid for him to attend this program.
The government chose Tuskegee University to be the main training center for African American pilots. West Virginia State College and other schools helped by sending their best students. Mac Ross was one of two students from his college chosen for the U.S. Army Air Corps Tuskegee Aviation Cadet training program. He joined the first class on July 19, 1941.
During his training, something scary happened. Mac Ross's P-40 plane caught fire while he was flying. He had to use his parachute to jump out safely. He worried that people would blame him. He thought they might say African Americans couldn't fly. But an investigation showed it was a problem with the plane, not his fault. This event made him the first African American member of the Caterpillar Club. This is a group for people who have safely parachuted from a broken aircraft. His instructor, Col. C. I. Williams, said Mac was a "good pilot."
On March 7, 1942, Mac Ross and only four other cadets finished the program. They earned their pilot wings. These five pilots were:
- 2nd Lt. Mac Ross
- Captain Benjamin O. Davis Jr.
- 2nd Lt. Charles DeBow
- 2nd Lt. Lemuel R. Custis
- 2nd Lt. George S. Roberts
They were the first African-American U.S. Army Air Corps pilots.
Military Service and Leadership
On May 26, 1942, Mac Ross became a Squadron Commander. He led the 100th Fighter Squadron of the 332nd Fighter Group. Later, he became the Group Operations Officer. This was a very important job that needed a lot of experience. He helped plan and manage the flying missions.
His squadron moved to Selfridge Field in Michigan. There, they did more intense training. During World War II, Mac Ross flew over 50 combat missions in Europe. He also often flew the Group's C-78 transport plane. This meant he had less time for combat missions.
His Death
On July 10, 1944, Mac Ross died in a plane accident. A few days before, he had been removed from his role as Group Operations Officer. The reasons for this are not fully clear. Some say he didn't get along well with his commanding officer, Benjamin O. Davis Jr. Others say Davis wanted someone with more combat experience for the role.
On the day he died, Ross was testing a P-51 plane. He was near Foggia, Italy. His plane slowly went down and hit a hill. Not much of the plane was left. Some people thought his oxygen system might have failed, causing him to lose consciousness. It was also suggested that his mind might have been distracted because of being relieved from his leadership role. The very next day, another Tuskegee Airman died in a similar way, possibly due to oxygen problems.
Mac Ross is buried at the Sicily-Rome American Cemetery and Memorial in Italy.
His Legacy
People remembered Mac Ross as a quiet and very dedicated person. His wife, Abbie, said he was confident and always had a positive outlook. She said, "He loved people. He seemed like an all around guy."
On June 27, 1989, the United States Postal Service honored Mac Ross. They named the Mac Ross Memorial Philatelic Room in Dayton, Ohio, after him. A special plaque honoring him is at the Dayton Post Office. He was chosen because he showed what a young person should try to be.
The University of California, Riverside keeps the papers of Mac Ross's wife, Abbie. This collection includes photos of Mac, Abbie, and other Tuskegee Airmen and nurses. It also has letters and news articles about the dedication of the room in Dayton.
Awards
- Distinguished Flying Cross (United States)
- Legion of Merit
- Purple Heart
- Congressional Gold Medal (awarded to all Tuskegee Airmen in 2006)
See also
- Executive Order 9981
- Fly (a play about the 332d Fighter Group)
- List of Tuskegee Airmen
- List of Tuskegee Airmen Cadet Pilot Graduation Classes
- Military history of African Americans
Images for kids
-
Mac Ross was flying a P-40 when the plane caught fire during training and he had to parachute out.
