World War II Honoree

Frank Grey

Branch of Service

U.S. Army Air Force

Hometown

Jacksonville Beach, Florida

Honored By

A Grateful American

HELD IN STALAG 17 BY THE GERMANS AND WAS KNOWN FOR HIS ABILITY TO AVOID DETECTION AND ESCAPE. HE WAS A TAIL GUNNER ON A B-17 BASED IN ENGLAND WHEN HIS PLANE WAS SHOT DOWN AND HE WAS CAPTURED. HID AMONG 4000 PRISONERS OF WAR AS SOON AS HE ARRIVED AT THE STALAG. AFTER A THREE-DAY SEARCH BY GERMAN GUARDS AND THE GESTAPO, THEY BECAME CONVINCED HE HAD ESCAPED. HE MADE HIS WAY INTO AN ADJOINING POW COMPOUND, ESCAPED FROM THERE, AND MADE HIS WAY BACK TO ENGLAND. HE BECAME KNOWN AS THE 'GRAY GHOST'. RECEIVED THE DISTINGUISHED FLYING CROSS, A PURPLE HEART AND THE POW MEDAL.