World War II Honoree

Robert Ray

Branch of Service

U.S. Army Air Force

Hometown

Muscle Shoals, Alabama

Honored By

Dave Brewer

JOINED A GROUP OF YOUNG FLYERS UNDER THE COMMAND OF COLONEL CLAIRE CHENNAULT WHO WAS IN CHINA TRAINING CHINESE AIRMAN IN 1938. HE FLEW FOODSTUFFS AND OTHER CARGO INTO CHINA AS CHINA DEFENDED HERSELF FROM THE ASSAULT OF THE JAPANESE. HE TURNED DOWN AN OFFER TO JOIN A FIGHTER GROUP, WHICH WOULD LATER BECOME FAMOUS AS 'THE FLYING TIGERS'. INSTEAD, HE JOINED THE 8TH ARMY AIR FORCE STATIONED IN ENGLAND. THERE HE FLEW FIGHTER PROTECTION FOR BOMBER CREWS. ON D-DAY, JUNE 6, 1944, HE FLEW FIGHTER SUPPORT FOR INFANTRY TROOPS LANDING AT NORMANDY.