B/Gen Leon Gray, deceased

B/General. Leon W. Gray October 18, 1913-November 26, 2007 Born in Lockney, Texas, Arizona's native son arrived at the age of 2. In 1934, he graduated from Tucson High School, Tucson, Arizona, and attended the University of Arizona and graduated in 1938.

He received his pilots' wings and commission from Aviation Cadet Training at Randolph and Kelly Fields, Texas in 1939. His first assignment was to a fighter group in Panama. He was a highly decorated World War II veteran who flew photo reconnaissance missions (unarmed) over enemy airspace with the 12th Reconnaissance Squadron with the F-5 Lightning in the Mediterrean theater. He was co-commander with Col. Elliott Roosevelt in North Africa, where upon, FDR stayed for dinner with his son and Leon on his way to Tunis for the Yalta Conference in 1943. He was also Commander of 25th Bomb Group, 8th AAF in Watton, England, 1944-1945 flying the Mosquito.

During the war, Col. Gray executed numerous outstanding missions, conspicuous for the sheer courage and daring. He voluntarily undertook the most difficult tasks and accomplished them with such consummate skill that he inspired outstanding results in all pilots of his group. He flew the first B-25 night-photo mission in 1943 and advanced the strategic and tactical value of photographic reconnaissance to an unprecedented degree. Col. Gray received the British Distinguished Flying Cross medal from King George VI at Buckingham Palace.

1946 and 1947: Stateside, March Field, California: Col. Gray piloted USAF's first operational jet, the F-80 Shooting Star (Beautiful Doll), along with Brig. Gen. Robin Olds, setting world speed record for the first transcontinental west coast/- east coast and back within daylight hours. During this time he was the winner of the auspicious Bendix Transcontinental Trophy Race, jet division, 1946 and again in 1947, flying the P-80 Shooting Star in 4 hrs. 2 min. with an average speed of 507 mph.

1950 and 1951: Commander of Williams AFB, Arizona. It was here that he had a cameo role in the movie "Air Cadet" which was filmed on base and he did all the lead flying for the film. At this time, he established the Acrojets Flying Team - the first officially recognized USAF precursor to the Thunderbird Team which succeeded in 1953. 1955: Alaskan Air Command, Elmendorf, AFB - training and operations officer. 1958: Commander, 4700th Air Defense Wing, Geiger Field, Washington - the first mach 2 flying command in the world.

In 1959 he was the winner of William Tell Worldwide Weapons meet (rocket and missile firing), flying the F-104 Starfighter jet. 1960: Commander, Portland Air Defense Sector, Adair Air Force Station, Oregon. 1963: Vice-Commander, 25th Air Division, McChord AFB, Washington. 1964: Commander, Phoenix Air Defense Sector, Luke AFB, Arizona. B/Gen. Leon W. Gray retired in 1967 after 27 years active military service. He was enshrined into the Aviation Hall of Fame (Pima Air and Space Museum) in Tucson, Arizona, April 17, 1993.