Born in Portland Oregon, Capt Coss signed the draft on 16 Feb 1942 while attending Oregon State College. He enlisted into the Army Air Corps on 19 Feb 1943 in Denver, Colorado. While serving with the 82nd Fighter Squadron, 78th Fighter Group 8th Army Air Force Capt Coss had some close calls. 26 Aug 1944 he was listed as missing in action after he failed to return from a dive bombing mission in his P-47D Thunderbolt #42-26585. After dive bombing Marshalling Yard in the Charleroi area, he was heard reporting his prop was “running away”, and stated he was going to bale out. The Missing Air Crew Report #8537 was issued before it was discovered that he was able to evade capture. He was killed in a mid-air collision while flying his P-51K #44-11663 in 1945. He was survived by his parents and four sisters.
http://www.americanairmuseum.com/person/223885
http://www.americanairmuseum.com/aircraft/3090
http://goldstarfamilyregistry.com/heroes/wilbur-coss-239920
https://www.abmc.gov/node/544795
https://www.oregondigital.org/catalog/oregondigital:fx71bm025#page/13/mo... (pg 13, 14)
https://www.oregondigital.org/catalog/oregondigital:fx719t21f#page/4/mod... (pg 4)
https://www.oregondigital.org/catalog/oregondigital:fx71bm01w#page/2/mod... (pg 2)
https://www.oregondigital.org/catalog/oregondigital:fx71b965k#page/4/mod... (pg 4)
https://www.oregondigital.org/catalog/oregondigital:fx719t26t#page/16/mo... (pg 16)
https://www.oregondigital.org/catalog/oregondigital:fx719t230#page/15/mo... (pg 16)