Harry E. Gray was born on December 19, 1922, in Elvins, St. Francois County, Missouri. He was the son of Grover P. and Martha Gray. He was married to Alma Bone Gray. He served in the 602nd Bomber Squadron, 398th Bomb Group, as a Staff Sergeant during World War II. He served with Lt. Ferguson’s crew in the 8th Air Force’s 398th Bomb Group. On March 18, 1945, he was wounded during operations over Berlin, Germany, which prevented him from flying on the crew’s final and fatal mission. Because of this, Gray was not aboard when the rest of his crew was later shot down and killed.

After the war, he worked as an accountant and remained active in his community as a member of the Delassus Baptist Church and the Farmington VFW Post 5896. SSgt Gray died on October 16, 2004, and is now buried in the Hillview Memorial Gardens, Farmington, St. Francois County, Missouri, USA.

Source of information: www.findagrave.com, www.americanairmuseum.com