Memorial

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1st Lt John R. Gray, enlisted in Peoria, Illinois on 4 April 1942.

"Lt John R. Gray has completed his dual training and was graduated recently from navigation school. He was graduated from bombardiers school last January at Williams Field, Ariz., and is now stationed in Walla Walla, Wash. He was formerly commercial layout man for McKnight and McKnight publishers."

"Second Lt John R. Gray, navigator, is with a eigth bomber command station, England. Their Flying Fortress is named "Temptation"."

"2nd Lt John R. Gray, has been missing in action since Jan. 4 in the European war theater.
The last letter from Lt Gray to his mother was written Jan. 3. He told her he had been given the air medal and two oak leaf clusters for meritorious service in aerial flights. He sent the medal and clusters to his mother. Lt Gray enlisted in the army air corps in April, 1942. He was sent to Santa Anna, Calif. and then to Williams Field, Ariz., where he was rated a distinguished bombardier. He then went to Selman Field, La., where he was classified a navigator. He went to Europe last September. His plane had been designated the lead plane of his squadron. Lt Gray is a graduate of Bloomington high school. He attended Illinois Wesleyan university for two years, after which he studied art in Chicago. When he enlisted he was employed by McKnight & McKnight."

"Lt John R. Gray is presumed to be dead, according to word from the War Department received by his mother. Lt Gray, navigator on a bomber, was previously reported missing over Germany Jan. 4, 1944. His last letter home was dated the day previous to his last mission. He enlisted in 1943 and had his training at Santa Ana, Calif., Williams Field, Ariz., and Monroe, La. He was graduated from Bloomington High School, attended Illinois Wesleyan university and was employed by McKnight and McKnight before he entered the army. Lt Gray had been awarded the Air Medal with a bronze cluster and gold cluster and Mrs. Johnson last week received the Purple Heart award for her son, with a letter stating he had been wounded in action over Germany. The letter also advised his mother that her son had been advanced to the rank of first lieutenant Dec. 23, 1943. The family had previously received from members of the crew in a bomber which saw the crippled plane falling, giving information that five men were seen to parachute from the plane. Three of these men have been heard from: three members of the crew are known to be dead; but no word has been received from the other three, including Lt Gray."

On the mission to Münster, Germany, 1st Lt James McLean was piloting ShortStride IV and 2nd Lt George Davis was in command of Skin and Bones. The sun momentarily blinded them when they turned toward the target. Seventeen young American airmen were killed in the resulting crash. Three airmen survived to become prisoners of war.