World War II Honoree

Charles T. Gray

Branch of Service

U.S. Army Air Force

Hometown

Hotchkiss, Colorado

Honored By

Sherry, Gayle & Debbie

Relationship

Daughters

SERVED IN THE EUROPEAN THEATER OF OPERATIONS AS A B-17 BOMBER BELLY BALL TURRET GUNNER. ASSIGNED TO 8TH AIR FORCE, 379TH BOMBARDMENT GROUP, 524TH BOMBARDMENT SQUADRON, KIMBOLTON, ENGLAND ARMY AIR FORCE STATION 117. DECLARED MISSING IN ACTION, SEPTEMBER 16, 1943 ON HIS 23RD COMBAT MISSION, WHEN HIS BOMBER WAS SHOT DOWN OVER FRANCE. HE SUCCESSFULLY BAILED OUT OF HIS CRIPPLED AIRCRAFT AND WAS CAPTURED BY THE GERMANS, BECOMING A PRISONER OF WAR AND INCARCERATED IN THE GERMAN CONCENTRATION CAMP STALAG LUFT XVII-B IN KREMS, AUSTRIA FOR 20 MONTHS. ON APRIL 8, 1945 HE AND OTHER POW’S BEGAN AN 18-DAY FORCED MARCH OF 281 MILES TO BRAUNAU, AUSTRIA (HITLER’S BIRTHPLACE). ON MAY 3, 1945 HE WAS THEN LIBERATED, FLOWN TO FRANCE AND EVENTUALLY RETURNED TO THE UNITED STATES. AWARDED THE DISTINGUISHED FLYING CROSS, AIR MEDAL WITH THREE OAK LEAF CLUSTERS, PRISONER OF WAR MEDAL, GOOD CONDUCT MEDAL, EUROPEAN-AFRICAN-MIDDLE EASTERN CAMPAIGN MEDAL AND DISTINGUISHED UNIT CITATION.