Frederic Colbert Gray
MilitaryPrinted 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
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
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Units served with
- Unit Hierarchy: Group
- Air Force: Eighth Air Force
- Type Category: Fighter
- Unit Hierarchy: Squadron
- Air Force: Eighth Air Force
- Unit Hierarchy: Headquarters
- Air Force: Eighth Air Force
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
Missions
- Date: 6 June 1944
- Date: 6 June 1944
Places
- Site type: Airfield
- Known as: "Duckpond"
- Site type: Military site
Events
Event | Location | Date | Description |
---|---|---|---|
Born |
Palestine, Texas | 6 October 1911 | |
Died |
7 December 1980 | ||
Buried |
Plot: Section 5 Site 38 |
Revisions
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/…
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