Ross Van Horne was born in Lethbridge, July 25, 1923 to parents Charles and Margaret Van Horne. He worked at the Lethbridge Ice company as a delivery man until he enlisted with the RCAF on November 12, 1942.
He qualified as an air gunner and was assigned to 106 Squadron Royal Air Force serving as a tail gunner in a Lancaster bomber. On September 12, 1944 his Squadron was participating in a massive bombing raid over Darmstadt, Germany when his aircraft crashed and burst into flames.  It was impossible to identify any of the remains that could be found. Ross and his crew are remembered on the Runnymede, England Air Force memorial to the missing. His mother Margaret received the Memorial Cross in honour of her son. He left behind a son also named Ross.