Frederic Colbert Gray

Military
Commanding officers of Fighter Groups of the 8th Air Force, 1944. Printed caption on reverse: 'FORMAL PORTRAIT: They are, left to right, front row: Hub Zemke, 479th Grp, Roy Caviness, 361st Grp, Dave Schilling, 56th Grp, Everett Stewart, 355th Grp, Ben Rimermann, 353rd Grp, John Henry, 339th Grp, GT Crowell, Unk. REAR: James Maydon, 352nd Grp, WH Swanson, Unk, Joe McManus, 364th Grp, Calirborn Kinnard, 4th Grp, Philip Tukey, 356th Grp. Fred Gray, 78th Grp, Don Graham, 357th Grp. Date is unknown but it has media-456986.jpg FRE 10014 Commanding officers of Fighter Groups of the 8th Air Force, 1944.
Printed caption on reverse: 'FORMAL PORTRAIT: They are, left to right, front row:
Hub Zemke, 479th Grp,
Roy Caviness, 361st Grp,
Dave Schilling, 56th Grp,
Everett Stewart, 355th Grp,
Ben Rimerman, 353rd Grp,
John Henry, 339th Grp,
Tod Crowell, 55th Grp.

REAR:
James Mayden, 352nd Grp,
WH Swanson, Unk,
Joe McManus, 364th Grp,
Claiborne Kinnard, 4th Grp,
Philip Tukey, 356th Grp.
Fred Gray, 78th Grp,
Don Graham, 357th Grp.
Date is unknown but it has to be from late August 1944 no later than 30 oct when Hub [Zemke] became a POW. On 12 Aug, Hub went to 479th and Dave Schilling took over 56th. Don Graham gave up 357th on 10 Oct, so it has to be before that. Missing are COs from 20th (Col Harold Rau, and 359th, Colonels Jacon or Randolph.) Now, one would guess that they were not available and maybe their deputy comdr sat in for them, whic would mean Swanson or Crowell. However, neither man is on the 30th Grp rosters (I have complete one) and I cannot find either name anywhere in the records. So that will remains a mystery for now. I have not used any ranks, but all would be Lt Col or Colonel. I hope you enjoy these as much as I do trying to solve these 50 plus year old mysteries!! PS Forgot to mention, I do not know location. I have a note that it might have been Bottisham, but I don't know where I got that.'

Handwritten caption on reverse: 'Bushey Hall Library.' Roger Freeman Collection

55th FG Records

Object Number - FRE 10014 - Commanding officers of Fighter Groups of the 8th Air Force, 1944. Printed caption on reverse: 'FORMAL PORTRAIT: They are, left to right, front row:...

Frederic C. Gray was born in 1911 near Palestine, Texas. He attended Rising Star High School and graduated in 1931 from Abilene Christian College with a bachelor of arts degree.



After serving for a year as principal, coach and math instructor at Sylvester, Texas, High School, he entered the U.S. Army Air Corps Flying School at Randolph Field, Texas in February 1933 and graduated from Kelly Field in February 1934. His was the first class to spend an extra year as a flying cadet, rated pilot, on active duty. He was commissioned a second lieutenant in 1935 at March Field, Calif.



Lieutenant Gray remained at March Field as a Pursuit pilot with the 17th Pursuit Group until 1937 when he returned to Randolph Field as a flight instructor and flight commander. In February 1938 he was promoted to the rank of first lieutenant.



In June 1941 he was assigned as a pilot and technical observer to the Royal Air Force, flying Spitfires. He returned to the United States in November 1941 to become director of training and gunnery at Foster Field, Texas.



In February 1942 he pinned on the bars of captain only to replace them with major's leaves in March 1942. Promoted to lieutenant colonel in early 1943, he was assigned to Randolph Field to organize the Fighter Group in the new Central Instructors School. In September 1943 Lieutenant Colonel Gray was assigned to the Command and General Staff School, followed by the Army Air Force Staff Officers Course.



February 1944 found Lieutenant Colonel Gray back in England as wing executive, 66th Fighter Wing, Eighth Air Force. Two months later he was assigned as commander, 78th Fighter Group. In June 1944, the silver leaves were replaced with eagles of full colonel. On Feb. 1, he became director of fighter operations, Headquarters Eighth Air Force. Returning to the United States after V-E Day, Colonel Gray was assigned to Colorado Springs, Colo., where he served as wing director of operations and training, 72d Fighter Wing.



In May 1946, Colonel Gray was assigned as Air National Guard wing instructor at Jefferson City, Mo., where he originated the post-war Air National Guard in seven Mid-Western states; then on to the Iowa Air National Guard as instructor to the 132d Fighter Wing Air National Guard. From August 1949 to June 1950 he attended the Air War College at Maxwell Air Force Base, Ala. He retired on 1 June 1968.



From: http://www.af.mil/AboutUs/Biographies/Display/tabid/225/Article/106915/…

Connections

See how this entry relates to other items in the archive by exploring the connections below.

Units served with

People

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 359th Fighter Group 368th Fighter Squadron
  • Service Numbers: O-742859
  • Highest Rank: Colonel
  • Role/Job: Fighter Pilot

Aircraft

  • Aircraft Type: P-47 Thunderbolt
  • Unit: 78th Fighter Group 83rd Fighter Squadron
  • Aircraft Type: P-47 Thunderbolt
  • Unit: 78th Fighter Group 83rd Fighter Squadron
A P-51 Mustang aircraft (serial number 44-63279),named "Mr. Ted II", of the 83rd Fighter Squadron, 78th Fighter Group, Duxford. This aircraft was piloted by Colonel Frederick C. Gray junior; who from May 1944 was Commanding Officer of the 78th Fighter Group. Handwritten on slide casing:"78FG Mount Farm R Astrella"
  • Aircraft Type: P-51 Mustang
  • Nicknames: Mr. Ted III
  • Unit: 78th Fighter Group 83rd Fighter Squadron

Missions

Places

Line up of P-47 Thunderbolts of the 82nd Fighter Squadron, 78th Fighter Group, at Duxford air base. September 1944. Printed caption on reverse of print: '55432 AC - War Birds Home To Rest - Republic P-47 Thunderbolts lined up on an 8th Air Force field in England after a daylight sweep over Germany. Crews have finished inspections and refueling.'
  • Site type: Airfield
  • Known as: "Duckpond"

Events

Event Location Date Description

Born

Palestine, Texas 6 October 1911

Died

7 December 1980

Buried

Plot: Section 5 Site 38

Revisions

Date
ContributorLucy May
Changes
Date
ContributorLucy May
Changes
Sources

Combined two entries for Frederic Gray into a single entry. This entry now includes information from the following source:
Ted Damick, VIII Fighter Command pilots list

Additional source:
http://www.af.mil/AboutUs/Biographies/Display/tabid/225/Article/106915/…

Date
ContributorAAM
Changes
Sources

Drawn from the records of the National Museum of the Mighty Eighth Air Force, Savannah, Georgia / Who's Who in the Eighth Air Force and/or Biographical Directory Command & Staff Officers Eighth Air Force 1942-45

Frederic Colbert Gray: Gallery (4 items)