James Amsler Gray
MilitaryJames Gray was in college and taking a civilian pilot training course when the European war began. "I tried for the U.S. Army Air Corps and couldn’t pass the physical," he says. "I heard that the British were recruiting pilots for the Royal Air Force. I wanted to fly a fast fighter." Like many prospective Eagle Squadron pilots, Gray went to a special school in the United States and learned flying from former U.S. Army Air Corps pilots before shipping off to England. James Gray joined the RAF as an American volunteer in September 1941, and was posted to 71 Eagle Squadron flying Spitfire Vbs. Gray’s first missions in the Spitfire were mostly convoy patrols over the English Channel. By September of 1941, the faster Spitfire Mk.V had replaced No.71 Squadron’s Mk. IIs, and along with the aircraft change came Eagle missions of a little more range - sweeps across the Channel into France. These missions were dubbed Rhubarbs, Circuses and Rodeos, depending on the number of aircraft used, their tactics and varied methods of enticing the Luftwaffe to fight. Gray says he shot down his first enemy plane in the spring of 1942. The day before, some RAF bombers had been badly shot up on a major operation. Rescue boats went out looking for aircrew that might still be floating in dinghies, and Spitfires were sent to provide air cover for the operation. While on this patrol they were attacked by a number of Fw190's. Gray attacked one of the Fw190s which was pursuing Wing Leader Bob Sprague's Spitfire, Gray opened fire with his cannons and sent the Fw190 plunging into the sea. Staying in the RAF throughout the war, he flew Spitfires in North Africa and the Mediterranean, first with 93 Squadron, and later 111 Squadron. His luck eventually ran out in Italy when he was shot down early in 1945 whilst serving with 72 Squadron. Flight Lieutenant James Gray was shot down on January 4th, 1945, his 26th birthday. Gray's Squadron’s Spitfire IXs were carrying 500-pound bombs in ground attacks against German troops in northern Italy. He was taken POW for four months in Stalag-Luft I, north of Berlin. Among Flight Lieutenant James Gray's awards and decorations is the prestigious British Distinguished Flying Cross (DFC). After the war Flight Lieutenant James Gray became a pilot for United Airlines, started flying the DC-3, then flew the Convair 340 and, after a long successful career, retired as a Captain in DC-8 jets. He was also the historian for the Eagle Squadrons. James Gray at the age of 90 passed away on the 25th of November 2009.
Connections
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Units served with
- Unit Hierarchy: Squadron
- Type Category: Fighter
People
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 334th Fighter Squadron 336th Fighter Squadron No 71 'Eagle' Squadron
- Service Numbers: O-885093
- Highest Rank: First Lieutenant
- Role/Job: Pilot
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 4th Fighter Group 334th Fighter Squadron No 71 'Eagle' Squadron
- Service Numbers: O-9983A
- Highest Rank: Major General
- Role/Job: Fighter Pilot/Group Commander
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 4th Fighter Group 336th Fighter Squadron No 133 'Eagle' Squadron
- Service Numbers: O-885120
- Highest Rank: First Lieutenant
- Role/Job: Pilot
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: No 71 'Eagle' Squadron
- Service Numbers: 114074
- Highest Rank: Pilot Officer
- Role/Job: Pilot
Places
- Site type: Airfield
- Site type: Airfield
Events
Event | Location | Date | Description |
---|---|---|---|
Born |
4 January 1919 | ||
Other Transferred |
Souk El Khemis, Algeria | 29 September 1942 | Transferred to 93 Sqn. North Africa. |
Other Shot down |
Italy | 4 January 1945 | Shot down in Spitfire Mk IX on January 4th, 1945 on a ground attack mission, Northern Italy. |
Other Prisoner Of War POW |
Barth, Germany | 4 January 1945 - 4 May 1945 | Prisoner Of War Stalag Luft I, north of Berlin. |
Died |
San Jose, CA | 25 November 2009 | Passed away 25th November 2009. |
Other Joined RAFVR |
United States | Joined Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve. | |
Other Service pilot training |
Tulsa, OK, USA | Underwent service pilot training. | |
Other Shipped Overseas |
Merseyside, UK | Shipped abroad to ETO. | |
Other Assigned |
Debden, Saffron Walden, Essex CB11, UK | Assigned to 71[Eagle] Sqn RAF. | |
Other Transferred |
Rimini RN, Italy | Transferred to 111 Sqn. Mediterranean. | |
Buried |
Mission City Memorial Park Santa Clara, Santa Clara County, CA | Mission City Memorial Park Santa Clara, Santa Clara County, California |
Revisions
Air Power, December 1 2000 / Drawn from the records of the National Museum of the Mighty Eighth Air Force, Savannah, Georgia