Captain Richard Lee Ross, 32, of Prospect, Jefferson County, Kentucky, died on 1 October 1950 in an aircraft accident near West Point, Kentucky, during a training flight. He was a member of the 165th Fighter Squadron, Kentucky Air National Guard.
Capt. Richard L. Ross, Prospect, who held several decorations won in 85 combat missions in the Pacific Theater during World War II, was killed in a plane crash yesterday at Fort Knox.
Ross, 31, a flight leader of the 165th Fighter Squadron, Kentucky Air National Guard, was leading four F-51 fighters on a training mission. His plane went out of control at approximately 1,000 feet at 10:20 a.m. and crashed into the side of a hill.
Other on the flight estimated the plane as traveling at more that 265 miles an hour when it crashed. Death apparently was instantaneous. The plane was demolished.
Ross and other member of the K.A.N.G. unit were engaged in advanced training. The unit had been ordered into federal service at Godman Air Force Base, Fort Knox, October 10.
There was no immediate explanation for the mishap, Maj. L. J. Merkel, Guard executive officer at Standiford Field, said. Ross was an experienced flier and all planes are carefully checked before flights, he added. An investigation will be made.
A native of Louisville, Ross moved near LaGrange with his parents at an early age. He was graduated from Liberty High Schoo, Prospect.
After completing advanced training at Craig Field, Selma, Ala., Ross was sent to the Pacific theater. He won the Air Medal with two clusters and the Philippine Liberation and New Guinea Ribbons with three battle stars. He was employed at the Louisville & Nashville Railroad in the accounting department after leaving the service.
Fort Knox, Ky., Oct. 2. (AP)- Capt. Richard L. Ross, 31-year-old member of the Kentucky air national guard, was killed here yesterday when his fighter plane went out of control and crashed into a hill. Ross was a flight leader of the 165th fighter squadron of the state air national guard. The unite has been ordered into federal service Oct. 10. Ross lived near La Grange. He flew 85 combat missions in the Pacific theater during World War II.