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Personal info

Full name
GRAY, Roy Glennister
Date of birth
7 February 1913
Age
30
Place of birth
Cowen, Webster County, West Virginia
Hometown
Cowen, Webster County, West Virginia

Military service

Service number
35396157
Rank
Staff Sergeant
Function
Left Waist Gunner
Unit
579th Bombardment Squadron,
392nd Bombardment Group, Heavy
Awards
Purple Heart,
Air Medal

Death

Status
Missing in Action
Date of death
4 October 1943
Place of death
North Sea, 60 miles north of the West-Frisian Islands

Grave

Cemetery
American War Cemetery Margraten
Walls of the Missing

Immediate family

Members
William G. Gray (grandfather)
Eythel (Clevenger) Gray (mother)
Esther M. (Coleman) Gray (sister)
James Earnest Clevenger (brother)
Gwendolyn Jane (Phillips) Clevenger (sister)
Carmen Cevilla (Lange) Clevenger (sister)

Plane data

Serial number
42-7481
Data
Type: B-24H
Nickname: Whiskers
Destination: Frisian Islands
Mission: Diversion
MACR: 892

More information

The mission's objective was to deconcentrate German defenses, primarily fighter units, and draw them away from the main bomber routes across the continent.

The aircraft was last observed with at least one and possibly both wings torn off after a collision with an enemy fighter which had been badly damaged. The collision was followed by a violent explosion at about 10,000 feet of. No parachutes were observed as the aircraft disappeared into the clouds at 1026 hours.

It is also believed that, according to eyewitness statements, during the incident the aircraft also collided with another B-24 (42-7471) as it fell out of formation.

The entire crew of eleven men was killed. Nine are remembered at the Walls of the Missing at Margraten. Michael Kvorjak and Carey Bratcher are remembered at the Tablets of the Missing at Cambridge Cemetery.

Source of information: Raf Dyckmans, Terry Hirsch, Peter Schouteten, www.fold3.com - MACR, 1940 Census, West Virginia Delayed Birth Certificate

Photo source: Peter Schouteten, Family Collection - courtesy of Debbie Holloman / West Virginia Archives and History