Leon W Gray
Military
Object Number - UPL 29596 - L-R: Colonel Leon W Gray, Gen Elliott Roosevelt. Col Gray is sporting a freshly pinned silver star to go with his DFC (OLC) and AM(14OLC).
Gray was a highly decorated WW II veteran who flew photo reconnaissance missions (unarmed) in enemy airspace with the P-38 Lightning and British Mosquito in the European theater. He was co-commander with Elliott Roosevelt in North Africa. Commander of 12th Reconnaissance Squadron flying P-51 and Spitfire missions to northern Italy during the Trieste Crisis. He was also Commander of 25th Bomb Group, 8th AAF in Watton, England, 1944-1945.
Awards: DSC, SS, LOM(OLC), DFC(OLC), AM(16OLC), British DFC, Croix de Guerre (Palm), EAME ( 2 Silver Stars, 1 Bronze Star), WWII Victory.
Connections
See how this entry relates to other items in the archive by exploring the connections below.
Units served with
- Unit Hierarchy: Group
- Air Force: Eighth Air Force
- Type Category: Reconnaissance
![Photographic officers of the 7th Photographic Reconnaissance Group look through camera lenses infront of a B-17 Flying Fortress. Image stamped on reverse: 'Esten Illustrated.' [stamp], 'Passed for Publication 8 Jul 1943.' [stamp] and '273528.' [Censor no.]. A printed caption was previously attached to the reverse, however this has been removed.](https://assets.americanairmuseum.com/s3fs-public/styles/teaser_thumb_x2/public/freeman/media-380976.jpg.webp?itok=b-IRYuYJ)
- Unit Hierarchy: Group
- Air Force: Eighth Air Force
- Type Category: Reconnaissance
Places
- Site type: Airfield
- Site type: Airfield
Events
| Event | Location | Date | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Born |
Lockney, TX 79241, USA | 18 October 1913 | |
|
Died |
Pima County, AZ, USA | 26 November 2007 | |
|
Buried |
Tucson, AZ, USA | East Lawn Palms Cemetery and Mortuary Tucson Pima County Arizona, USA |
Revisions
7th Photo Recon Group Master Directory, 6 June 1996; Aerial Intelligence of the 8th Air Force, pg 18 (photo) / Drawn from the records of the National Museum of the Mighty Eighth Air Force, Savannah, Georgia
