World War II Honoree

William J. 'Bill' Gray, Jr.

Branch of Service

U.S. Army Air Force

Hometown

Seattle, Washington

Honored By

Orville L. Kline

Rank: First Lieutenant. He was inducted into the United States Army July 10, 1942 at Seattle, Washington. After completing Boot Camp, he was selected to attend the Flight Aviation Training Program. Served as a P-47D Republic ‘Thunderbolt’ Fighter Pilot in the European Theater of Operations and based at the Münster-Handorf Airfield, Munster, Germany. He was assigned to the 391st Fighter Squadron, 366th Fighter Group; U.S. Ninth Army Air Force. Reported missing in Action Monday, April 16, 1945 when his fighter was damaged, and crashed while strafing enemy troops in the area of Lindau, Sachsen-Anhalt, Germany. After the cessation of hostilities in Europe, a Quartermaster Graves Registration Company; Quartermaster Corps conducted recovery operations in German, and his remains were not recovered. In April of 2016, personnel from the Defense Prisoner of War/Missing in Action Agency excavated the crash site, recovering remains, American military gear, and other artifacts. The remains were transferred to the Agencies laboratory at Offutt Air Force Base, Nebraska, where he was identified. The family of this Airman received his remains for burial. He was laid to rest with Military Honors, July 14, 2017 at the Tahoma National Cemetery in Kent, Washington. This American Patriot received the following Decorations posthumously: Distinguished Flying Cross, Air Medal with six oak leaf clusters and the Purple. The Distinguished Flying Cross awarded for support of operations by heroism or extraordinary achievement while participating in an aerial flight. Air Medal awarded for meritorious achievement while participating in aerial flight. The Purple Heart was awarded for his ultimate sacrifice in defense of his country.