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Casualty Info
Home Town Lunenburg
Last Address Lost at Sea. Memorial: South Cemetery Lunenburg, Worcester County Massachusetts
Casualty Date Aug 07, 1943
Cause KIA-Died of Wounds
Reason Air Loss, Crash - Sea
Location North Atlantic Ocean
Conflict World War II
Location of Interment Buried at Sea, North Atlantic Ocean
Cross enlisted in the United States Naval Reserve 22 March 1941, and after aviation training was ordered to a bombing squadron at DeLand, Florida.
Awarded the Navy Cross
Lieutenant (junior grade) Cross was killed in action 7 August 1943 during an engagement with an enemy submarine. Although he was mortally wounded and his plane had a shattered starboard engine, he continued to attack the submarine, then made a perfect water landing, thus saving the lives of his copilot and radio operator. For his outstanding courage and indomitable fighting spirit, Lieutenant (junior grade) Cross was posthumously awarded the Navy Cross.
The official Navy citation:
The Navy Cross is presented to Frederick C. Cross, Lieutenant (j.g.), U.S. Navy (Reserve), for extraordinary heroism and distinguished service as Pilot of a Navy PV-1 airplane in Bombing Squadron ONE HUNDRED TWENTY-EIGHT (VB-128), Fleet Air Wing NINE, United States Atlantic Fleet, during an engagement with an enemy submarine on 7 August 1943. Although he sustained mortal wounds and his aircraft's starboard engine was shattered by a direct hit during the approach to a hostile submarine, Lieutenant (j.g.) Cross, undeterred by his extremely painful injuries and the hazards of concentrated enemy gunfire, pressed home an aggressive attack, dropping his depth bombs in a stick across the ship's bow and possibly damaging the undersea craft. After struggling in vain to maintain flight, he succeeded in effecting a perfect water landing, thus enabling his co-pilot and radio operator to survive and subsequently to attain safety. Lieutenant (j.g.) Cross' outstanding courage, daring airmanship and devotion to duty were in keeping with the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service. He gallantly gave his life for his country.
Namesake
Cross (DE-448) was named in his honor. She was launched 4 July 1944 by Federal Shipbuilding and Dry Dock Co., Kearny, New Jersey; sponsored by Mrs. D. F. Cross, mother of the late Lieutenant (junior grade) Cross, USNR; and commissioned 8 January 1945, Lieutenant H. L. Minshall, Jr., USNR, in command.
