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Wall of Honor Level:
Air and Space Friend

Honored by:
Camille Grosso

Gerard Grosso enlisted in the U.S. Army Air Forces in July 1942. He was commissioned a second lieutenant and received his pilot wings in December 1943.

During WWII he was assigned to a Troop Carrier Unit in England, flying in the European Theatre of Operations. He participated in D-Day, dropping troops on D-Day minus six, and on D-Day plus three he towed gliders into Normandy. During the war's push across Europe he towed gliders over Belgium into the Netherlands. While General Patton marched through France and Germany, he flew missions re-supplying the 4th Armored Division with fuel. After being reassigned to Berlin in 1945 he supported the Potsdam Conference by flying in water and food.

A highly memorable experience was escorting liberated prisoners from Dachau concentration camp to freedom in Brussels, Belgium. Also while in Berlin, he transported U.S. soldiers to recreational sites in Cannes, Nice, Paris, and London.

He was discharged from the service in December 1945, but was recalled in September 1948 into the newly formed U.S. Air Force. While serving in Japan he flew supplies and other logistics missions into South Korea during the Korean War from 1952 to 1954.

Continuing his Air Force career, he was assigned to the 551st Aircraft Early Warning Wing flying coastal patrol out of Otis Air Force Base in Massachusetts. He maintained his flying proficiency during assignments in Vietnam, retiring from the Air Force following 32 years of service.