Eldred A Gray
Military
Uploaded
Object Number - UPL 7200 - Eldred A. Gray
As a member of an Antisubmarine squadron assigned to the 8th, the crew was ferrying B-24 41-24010 across the S. Atlantic Ocean. Disappeared after leaving Trinidad.
Connections
See how this entry relates to other items in the archive by exploring the connections below.
Units served with
- Unit Hierarchy: Squadron
Events
| Event | Location | Date | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
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Born |
Abt 1917 Hempfield, Westmoreland, Pennsylvania. | ||
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Born |
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Other Graduation from Flying School |
Eldred graduated 5 August 1942 from the Columbus Flying School ( Class of 42-G), located at Columbus Field, Mississippi. Columbus Field later became Columbus Air Force Base. No official record to date as to where stationed after Graduation, however, may have been stationed in New York area or Langley Field ( Hampton, VA) or other East Coast Air Bases, where, His last Mission apparently took him to British Guiana/ Trinidad and on to unknown destination over Atlantic. | ||
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Other Last Mission and Plane Disappearance at Sea |
Eldred and crew of 11 were officially declared missing 21 December 1942. Reports seem to indicate their plane was lost after leaving British Guiana/ Trinidad for a unknown destination, possibly back to US East Coast or North Africa. Wreckage or bodies were never found. Two memorials exist: Public : Battery Park Manhattan New York County (Manhattan) Family: Small Headstone at Grandville Cemetery, New Kensington, PA. , next to Mother and Father's, Eldest Brother William Gray and William's Spouce Verna Gray. Eldred's Headstone reads " You Died for our Country Brother" Eldred A. Gray. Gray Family received the Purple Heart in Lieu of Eldred A. Gray's Sacrifice for His Country. | ||
| Eldred grew up and lived in the Hempfield, Brenizer -Blairsville and New Kensington - Pittsburgh , PA areas. Attended University of Pittsburgh around 1940-41 prior to enlisting. Classes included Chemistry and Drafting. Liked to play tennis. |
Revisions
AAM sources and interviews with Sibling Gail R. Gray and Nephew Historian John N.
Interview of sibling Gail R. Gray Benedict and Nephew Historian John N.
AAM, Drawn from the records of the National Museum of the Mighty Eighth Air Force, Savannah, Georgia / Losses of the 8th and 9th AFs by Bishop and Heys Vol. 1 p 56; Family records and visit to Grandville Cemetery 2001 (mwb).
Review of Graduation Announcement Card and Photographs provided by siblings Gail R. (Gray) Benedict and Esther (Gray) Warnock.
Drawn from the records of the National Museum of the Mighty Eighth Air Force, Savannah, Georgia / Losses of the 8th and 9th AFs by Bishop and Heys Vol. 1 p 56
