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James Gray
| Flight Lieutenant James Gray (deceased) James Gray was in college and taking a civilian pilot training course when the European war began. 'I tried for the U.S. Army Air Corps and couldn't pass the physical,' he says. 'I heard that the British were recruiting pilots for the Royal Air Force. I wanted to fly a fast fighter.' Like many prospective Eagle Squadron pilots, Gray went to a special school in the United States and learned flying from former U.S. Army Air Corps pilots before shipping off to England. James Gray joined the RAF as an American volunteer in September 1941, and was posted to 71 Eagle Squadron flying Spitfire Vbs. Gray's first missions in the Spitfire were mostly convoy patrols over the English Channel. By September of 1941, the faster Spitfire Mk.V had replaced No.71 Squadron's Mk. IIs, and along with the aircraft change came Eagle missions of a little more range - sweeps across the Channel into France. These missions were dubbed Rhubarbs, Circuses and Rodeos, depending on the number of aircraft used, their tactics and varied methods of enticing the Luftwaffe to fight. Gray says he shot down his first enemy plane in the spring of 1942. The day before, some RAF bombers had been badly shot up on a major operation. Rescue boats went out looking for aircrew that might still be floating in dinghies, and Spitfires were sent to provide air cover for the operation. While on this patrol they were attacked by a number of Fw190's. Gray attacked one of the Fw190s which was pursuing Wing Leader Bob Sprague's Spitfire, Gray opened fire with his cannons and sent the Fw190 plunging into the sea. Staying in the RAF throughout the war, he flew Spitfires in North Africa and the Mediterranean, first with 93 Squadron, and later 111 Squadron. His luck eventually ran out in Italy when he was shot down early in 1945 whilst serving with 72 Squadron. Flight Lieutenant James Gray was shot down on January 4th, 1945, his 26th birthday. Gray's Squadron's Spitfire IXs were carrying 500-pound bombs in ground attacks against German troops in northern Italy. He was taken POW for four months in Stalag-Luft I, north of Berlin. Among Flight Lieutenant James Gray's awards and decorations is the prestigious British Distinguished Flying Cross (DFC). After the war Flight Lieutenant James Gray became a pilot for United Airlines, started flying the DC-3, then flew the Convair 340 and, after a long successful career, retired as a Captain in DC-8 jets. He was also the historian for the Eagle Squadrons. James Gray at the age of 90 passed away on the 25th of November 2009. |
Items Signed by Flight Lieutenant James Gray (deceased) |
| Eagle Force by Robert Taylor. Price : £210.00 | In the dark days of 1940 following Dunkirk, a seemingly defenceless Britain stood starkly alone in Europe, facing the might of an all-conquering Nazi Germany. Protected only by the narrow waters of the English Channel, it was left to a tiny band of...... | |
| Eagle Force by Robert Taylor. (AP) SOLD OUT | In the dark days of 1940 following Dunkirk, a seemingly defenceless Britain stood starkly alone in Europe, facing the might of an all-conquering Nazi Germany. Protected only by the narrow waters of the English Channel, it was left to a tiny band of...... | NOT AVAILABLE |
| Eagle Force by Robert Taylor. (B) Price : £285.00 | In the dark days of 1940 following Dunkirk, a seemingly defenceless Britain stood starkly alone in Europe, facing the might of an all-conquering Nazi Germany. Protected only by the narrow waters of the English Channel, it was left to a tiny band of...... | |
| Eagle Force by Robert Taylor. (C) SOLD OUT | In the dark days of 1940 following Dunkirk, a seemingly defenceless Britain stood starkly alone in Europe, facing the might of an all-conquering Nazi Germany. Protected only by the narrow waters of the English Channel, it was left to a tiny band of...... | NOT AVAILABLE |
Packs with at least one item featuring the signature of Flight Lieutenant James Gray (deceased) |
| Pack 717. Pack of two Spitfire prints by Robert Taylor and Nicolas Trudgian. Pack Price : £585.00 Saving : £344 | Aviation Print Pack. ...... Titles in this pack : Eagle Force by Robert Taylor. (B) September Victory by Nicolas Trudgian. (B) Where Thoroughbreds Play by Ivan Berryman. | |
| Aviation Art of Robert Taylor and Ivan Berryman. Pack Price : £260.00 Saving : £140 | Aviation Print Pack. ...... Titles in this pack : Eagle Force by Robert Taylor. Billy Drake - First of Many by Ivan Berryman. Hurricane Mk.IIC by Ivan Berryman. (F) | |
Pack 715. Pack of two WW2 Spitfire aviation prints by Robert Taylor and Nicolas Trudgian. Pack Price : £350.00 Saving : £75 | Aviation Print Pack. ...... Titles in this pack : Eagle Force by Robert Taylor. (B) First Flap of the Day by Nicolas Trudgian. (B) | ||
Pack 716. Pack of two special edition Spitfire prints by Nicolas Trudgian and Robert Taylor. Pack Price : £380.00 Saving : £135 | Aviation Print Pack. ...... Titles in this pack : Eagle Force by Robert Taylor. (B) First Flap of the Day by Nicolas Trudgian. (C) | ||
Pack 718. Pack of two WW2 Spitfire prints by Robert Taylor and Ivan Berryman. Pack Price : £225.00 Saving : £85 | Aviation Print Pack. ...... Titles in this pack : Eagle Force by Robert Taylor. The Thoroughbred by Ivan Berryman. |
Pack 719. Pack of two No.71 Squadron Spitfire prints by Robert Taylor and John Young. Pack Price : £255.00 Saving : £120 | Aviation Print Pack. ...... Titles in this pack : Eagle Force by Robert Taylor. Spitfire Over Buckingham Palace by John Young. (AP) | ||
Battle of Britain Spitfire Print Pack by Ivan Berryman and Robert Taylor. Pack Price : £265.00 Saving : £165 | Aviation Print Pack. ...... Titles in this pack : In the Playground of the Gods by Ivan Berryman. (D) Eagle Force by Robert Taylor. | ||
Battle of Britain Signature Spitfire Prints by Robert Taylor and Ivan Berryman. Pack : SOLD OUT | Aviation Print Pack. ...... Titles in this pack : In the Playground of the Gods by Ivan Berryman. (D) First Combat by Robert Taylor | NOT AVAILABLE | |
RAF Spitfire and Hurricane Prints by Robert Taylor. Pack Price : £280.00 Saving : £100 | Aviation Print Pack. ...... Titles in this pack : Eagle Force by Robert Taylor. Fastest Victory by Robert Taylor | ||
Spitfire Aviation Art Prints by Robert Taylor and Ivan Berryman. Pack Price : £280.00 Saving : £70 | Aviation Print Pack. ...... Titles in this pack : Eagle Force by Robert Taylor. Land, Sea and Air by Ivan Berryman. (C) |
Pilot Signed Spitfire Prints by Robert Taylor and Ivan Berryman. Pack Price : £285.00 Saving : £65 | Aviation Print Pack. ...... Titles in this pack : Eagle Force by Robert Taylor. Land, Sea and Air by Ivan Berryman. (APD) | ||
RAF Eagle Squadron Spitfire Aviation Prints by Robert Taylor. Pack Price : £295.00 Saving : £135 | Aviation Print Pack. ...... Titles in this pack : Eagle Force by Robert Taylor. Eagle Squadron Scramble by Robert Taylor |
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