Serial Number: NZ402574
RNZAF Trade: A Grade Aircraft Frame Fitter
Date of Enlistment: 1940
Date of Demob: 1946
Rank Achieved: Captain (?, this according to his headstone, doesn't sound right)
Flying Hours: unknown
Operational Sorties: unknown

Date of Birth: Born in Auckland c. 1918
Personal Details: Doug's father had been an administrator at the Chelsea Sugar Works in Auckland. Doug was educated at Glenfield Primary School and Northcote High School. He began his working career by serving an apprenticeship with A. and T. Burt, an Auckland firm. He married Wellington nurse Noeline Browne at Trentham in 1941. After the war Doug returned to Auckland, and continued with his previous employment. This was cut short by an accident involving machinery that severely damaged his left hand and arm. Though doctors feared he'd lose the use of his arm, he determined to rehabilitate it, and eventually regained the use of his arm, reportedly playing gold with it to a handicap of 10.

From 1951 till his retirement in 1978 Doug and Noeline Ross lived in Wellington, where he worked at Odlin's Timber and Hardware, where he became a manager. He built a beach cottage at Waitarere Beach near Levin.

After retiring in 1978 the Ross's moved to Cambridge, and settled in Walpole Street.

Doug had over the years had interests in the Boy Scout movement in his younger days, the Masonic Lodge, a long association with the R.S.A. and later in life was a keen member of the Cambridge Golf Club. Doug and Noeline had two daughters, Jennifer (later Mrs Jennifer Mahoney of Adelaide) and Beverley (later Mrs Beverley Duff of Brisbane). At the time of his death he had ten grandchildren and three great grandchildren

Service Details: Doug trained at RNZAF Station Rongotai in a highly specialised role, and then saw service in the Solomon Islands, Guadalcanal and Hawaii.