World War II Honoree

William Holmes Gray

Branch of Service

U.S. Army Air Force

Hometown

Canoga Park, California

Honored By

Sam E. Pennartz

ENLISTED IN THE ARMY AIR FORCES ON 4 NOVEMBER 1942 AT LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA. UNDERWENT B-29 AIRCRAFT TRANSITION AND COMBAT CREW TRAINING AT PRATT ARMY AIR FIELD, KANSAS. DEPLOYED TO THE CENTRAL PACIFIC THEATRE OF OPERATIONS AND WAS ASSIGNED TO 20TH AIR FORCE, XXI BOMBER COMMAND, 73RD BOMB WING, 497TH BOMBARDMENT GROUP, 869TH BOMB SQUADRON STATIONED AT ISLEY FIELD ON SAIPAN IN THE MARIANA ISLANDS. ON 1 APRIL 1945, HE FLEW AS AN AERIAL GUNNER IN THE TAIL STATION ABOARD A BOEING B-29 SUPERFORTRESS (SERIAL #42-93883). IT WAS ONE OF 121 AIRCRAFT LAUNCHED IN A MULTI-GROUP FORMATION TO BOMBARD THE MUSASHINO AIRCRAFT ENGINE FACTORY NEAR TOKYO, JAPAN. WEATHER OVER THE TARGET AREA WAS CLEAR WITH SOME HAZE. FLAK FROM ANTI-AIRCRAFT ARTILLERY WAS MEAGER, BUT ACCURATE. JAPANESE FIGHTER AIRCRAFT ATTACKS WERE DESCRIBED AS MODERATE, WITH 33 PASSES REPORTED. HIS AIRCRAFT TOOK-OFF AT 2100 HOURS LOCAL WITH A COURSE HEADING OF 350 DEGREES ON THE PLANNED 15-HOUR ROUND-TRIP MISSION, BUT NEVER RETURNED TO SAIPAN.