Floyd L Gray

Military

Shot down 15 August 1944 in B-24 #4250442. Evaded (EVD).

Connections

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Units served with

The insignia of the 493rd Bomb Group.
  • Unit Hierarchy: Group
  • Air Force: Eighth Air Force
  • Type Category: Bombardment

People

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 493rd Bomb Group 862nd Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 33548652
  • Highest Rank: Technical Sergeant
  • Role/Job: Top Turret Gunner
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 493rd Bomb Group 862nd Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 14118841 and O-816256
  • Highest Rank: Second Lieutenant
  • Role/Job: Co-Pilot
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 493rd Bomb Group 862nd Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 34095885
  • Highest Rank: Staff Sergeant
  • Role/Job: waist gunner
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 493rd Bomb Group 862nd Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: O-694932
  • Highest Rank: Second Lieutenant
  • Role/Job: Bombardier
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 493rd Bomb Group 862nd Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 19101798 and O-702123
  • Highest Rank: Second Lieutenant
  • Role/Job: Navigator

Aircraft

  • Aircraft Type: B-24 Liberator
  • Unit: 493rd Bomb Group 862nd Bomb Squadron

Missions

Places

Events

Event Location Date Description

Born

Fort Collins, Colorado, United States 16 May 1920 the son of Norris Earl and Marguerite Effie (Mein) Gray

Enlisted

17 September 1940

Other

Missing in Action (MIA)

Belgium 15 August 1944 - 6 September 1944 Landed near Ghent, Belgium. Evaded. See his Escape & Evasion report at http://media.nara.gov/nw/305270/EE-1629.pdf - A farmer bandaged his wounds, gave him civilian clothes and indicated the way to Courtrai / Kortrijk, Belgium. In a town about 8 miles NE of that main city, he was taken care of by a 35-year old man who took him in, fed him, tended to his feet and put him in contact with a man who guided him to Menin / Menen, near the French border. Gray crossed the border on his own and reached Roncq in France, where he stopped at a house to ask for a drink. The peole obliged, fed him also and fetched a Catholic priest who spoke English. Gray stayed in that house and was visited there by a couple, Mr & Mrs Derykers-Homez of 33 rue des Chats Huants in Roncq. They then brought him a guide who led him to a farm about 4 miles away. He stayed there for 5 days, frequently visited by the couple. Then the same guide came and led him to the house of a tailor, "Edouard Vannese" in Roncq [ Note researcher : the post-war French Helpers list for Roncq only has two VANNESTE in Roncq, one Albert, the other Louis, at different addresses - no "VANNESE"... ]. Gray lived there until British troops liberated the city on 6 September 1944. He was taken in charge and driven by an American officer to Lille and from there he was flown back to England from a Canadian landing strip on 8 September. Was liberated by British troops on See also Lt Eadmer W. Pease's page.

Died

Modesto, Stanislaus County, California, United States 12 August 1995
Loveland, Colorado

Revisions

Date
ContributorED-BB
Changes
Sources

NARA WWII Enlistment records
MACR 7918
Escape & Evasion report at http://media.nara.gov/nw/305270/EE-1629.pdf
Burial data at the Find a Grave website

Date
ContributorAAM
Changes
Sources

Drawn from the records of the National Museum of the Mighty Eighth Air Force, Savannah, Georgia / MACR 7918 / MACR 7918, http://493bgdebach.co.uk/roster_list.php / Paul Andrews, Project Bits and Pieces, 8th Air Force Roll of Honor database