Joe Henry Gray Jr
Military ROLL OF HONOURObject Number - UPL 68244 - Capt Joe H. Gray Jr
Assigned to 342BS, 97BG, 8AF USAAF. Shot down 21-Oct-42 in B-17 41-24441 'Francis X' while serving as Navigator. Killed in Action (KIA).
Awards: AM, PH.
Connections
See how this entry relates to other items in the archive by exploring the connections below.
Units served with
![A formation of Flying Fortresses on their way to attack targets near the Anzio beachhead. Nearest the camera is a 342nd Bomb Squadron, 97th Bomb Group B-17 Flying Fortress (serial number 42-30056) that was declared Missing In Action on the 2nd of July 1944. Handwritten caption on reverse: '230056, MIA 2/7/44, 342BS, 97BG.' Printed caption on reverse: 'PNA. IA 18239. Forts Bound For Anzio. A flight of Flying Fortresses, carrying fragmentation bombs, gather in formation for a flight to the Anzio beachhead,](https://assets.americanairmuseum.com/s3fs-public/styles/max_650x650/public/freeman/media-457803.jpg?itok=coB24-Wt)
- Unit Hierarchy: Squadron
- Air Force: Eighth Air Force
- Type Category: Bombardment
![Ground personnel of the 97th Bomb Group reservice a B-17 Flying Fortress (serial number 41-9023) nicknamed "Yankee Doodle", following the raid on Rouen. Image stamped on reverse: 'Associated Press.' [stamp], 'Passed for Publication 18 Aug 1942.' [stamp], 'Air=SER (Boeing).' [written annotation] and '216112.' [Censor no.] Printed caption on reverse: 'U.S FLYING FORTRESSES RAID ROUEN IN DAYLIGHT. Associated Press Photo Shows: No sooner had one of the huge Fortresses landed after the raid than ground crew im](https://assets.americanairmuseum.com/s3fs-public/styles/max_650x650/public/freeman/media-379318.jpg?itok=apGbR7Ih)
- Unit Hierarchy: Group
- Air Force: Eighth Air Force
- Type Category: Bombardment
People
![Lieutenant Harry R. Erickson, from Mankato, Minnesota, a bombardier of the 97th Bomb Group inside the nose of a B-17 Flying Fortress. A censor has obscured the ammunition to the bottom left of Erickson. Image stamped on reverse: 'Associated Press.' [stamp], 'Ministry of Information 25 Jul 1942.' [stamp], 'Air(Boeing).' [written annotation] and '212091.' [Censor no.] Printed caption on reverse: 'AMERICAN FLYING FORTRESSES WAIT FOR ZERO HOUR. Associated Press Photo Shows: Lt. Harry Erickson from Mankato, Mi](https://assets.americanairmuseum.com/s3fs-public/styles/max_650x650/public/freeman/media-379324.jpg?itok=LYDoNYXg)
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 97th Bomb Group 342nd Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: 17017977 / O-440334
- Highest Rank: First Lieutenant
- Role/Job: Bombardier
![](https://assets.americanairmuseum.com/s3fs-public/styles/max_650x650/public/media/media-23777.jpeg?itok=LCyLX2RX)
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 97th Bomb Group 342nd Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: 39165066
- Highest Rank: Sergeant
- Role/Job: Waist Gunner
![Kenneth Laud](https://assets.americanairmuseum.com/s3fs-public/styles/max_650x650/public/2023-11/143437027_3d9cd541-d465-4494-b0e3-641439f3d6da.jpeg?itok=1HcI3Q0I)
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 97th Bomb Group 342nd Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: 20744087
- Highest Rank: Sergeant
- Role/Job: Radio Operator
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 97th Bomb Group 342nd Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: 14073155
- Highest Rank: Sergeant
- Role/Job: Top Turret Gunner
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 97th Bomb Group 342nd Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: 12043729
- Role/Job: Waist Gunner
Aircraft
![](https://assets.americanairmuseum.com/s3fs-public/styles/max_650x650/public/media/media-23777.jpeg?itok=LCyLX2RX)
- Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
- Nicknames: Francis X
- Unit: 97th Bomb Group 342nd Bomb Squadron
Missions
![](https://assets.americanairmuseum.com/s3fs-public/styles/max_650x650/public/media/media-23778.jpeg?itok=11bp5e6N)
- Date: 21 October 1942
- Official Description:
Places
![](https://assets.americanairmuseum.com/s3fs-public/styles/max_650x650/public/media/media-17399.jpeg?itok=XsUKqCxR)
- Site type: Cemetery
- Known as: Cambridge American Military Cemetery
![A B-17 Flying Fortress (serial number 42-107124) of the 351st Bomb Group flies over Polebrook.](https://assets.americanairmuseum.com/s3fs-public/styles/max_650x650/public/freeman/media-380012.jpg?itok=Rvmd8nak)
- Site type: Airfield
Events
Event | Location | Date | Description |
---|---|---|---|
Born |
Tallahassee, Florida | 19 December 1918 | BornTallahassee, Florida |
Enlisted |
Fort Benning, Georgia | 29 July 1940 | EnlistedFort Benning, Georgia |
Other Changed Speciality |
East St Louis, Missouri | 15 December 1940 | Washed out of pilot training, changed training stream to Navigator.East St Louis, Missouri |
Other Commissioned |
Miami, Florida | 1 February 1941 | Commissioned 2nd Lieutenant |
Died Killed in Action (KIA) |
Lorient, France | 21 October 1942 | Aircraft lost near Lorient, France. Circumstances unknown. Jis remains have never been recovered. |
Died Tablets of the Missing |
Cambridge American Cemetery and Memorial Coton,Cambridge, UK | 1 January 1946 | Tablets of the MissingCambridge American Cemetery and MemorialCoton, Cambs, UK |
Buried Memorialised |
Oakland Cemetery Tallahassee, Florida | 1 January 1948 | MemorialisedOakland CemeteryTallahassee, Florida |
Revisions
ContributorAl_Skiff
Changes
ContributorLee8thbuff
Changes
Sources
Lee Cunningham 27-Oct-2014. American Battle Monuments Commission (ABMC).
ContributorAAM
Changes
Sources
Drawn from the records of the National Museum of the Mighty Eighth Air Force, Savannah, Georgia / Roll of Honor, Losses of the 8th and 9th AF Vol. 1 by Bishop and Hey, p. 38