Naval Air Station Fort Lauderdale Museum
  • Home
    • Squedule a Tour
    • Exhibits
    • Online-only exhibits
    • Donate
    • Memorial bricks
  • About
    • Veterans History Project
  • Events Blog
  • Merchandise
  • Direction/Contact
  • Home
    • Squedule a Tour
    • Exhibits
    • Online-only exhibits
    • Donate
    • Memorial bricks
  • About
    • Veterans History Project
  • Events Blog
  • Merchandise
  • Direction/Contact

Events  Blogs

Leo Gray

9/24/2016

2 Comments

 
Picture
Lt. Col Leo R. Gray, U.S. Army Corps, WWII
Picture
Leo Gray at a NASFL Museum Luncheon

​Lt. Col. Leo R. Gray, USAC - WWII


Leo Gray, one of the original Tuskegee Airmen who fought in the skies over Europe during World War II, died Friday September 23,  in his Coconut Creek home. He was 92.

Lt. Col. Leo R. Gray made significant contributions to the United States throughout his military and civilian careers. Soon after high school graduation, Lieutenant Colonel Gray joined the Army Air Corps and began his aviation cadet training in 1943. Little more than a year later he graduated from the Tuskegee Army Air field as a Second Lieutenant, single engine pilot. While stationed in Italy as a fighter pilot, Gray flew 15 combat missions in P-51s for a total of 750 hours flying time. He left active duty in 1946, but remained in the USAF Reserves until 1984. During his 41 years of military service, Lieutenant Colonel Gray earned a Coveted Air Medal with one Oak Leaf cluster and a Presidential Unit Citation.

Gray earned a Bachelor's degree from the University of Massachusetts in 1950, a Masters degree from the University of Nebraska in 1952, and did post graduate work at the University of Maryland from 1962-1964. He began his 30 year career with USDA in 1953 as a Technical Assistant at the University of Massachusetts Agricultural Extension Service. Gray wore many hats in the USDA career. He served as an agricultural economist with the Economic Research Service, an economist with APHIS in California, and as Director, Program Planning Office of the Food Safety & Inspection Service to mention a few. In addition, he was an economic consultant to United States Department of Agriculture in West Africa. 

His professional and civic life reflected his deep commitments to the Tuskegee Airmen, to agricultural economic research organizations, and to civil rights. He was a member of the Tuskegee Airmen Inc, and in 1991 became founder and president of the Miami Chapter. He was the past president, vice president and treasurer of the East Coast Chapter of Tuskegee Airmen, the founder and past president of the Forum on Blacks in Agriculture, the past president of Good Hope East Civic Association in Silver Springs, MD, and a former member of the Richmond, California, Model Neighborhood Citizens Board. Other memberships included the Air Force Association, the Retired Officers Association, the NAACP, the Gulfstream Chapter AMMV, the Naval Air Station Fort Lauderdale Museum, and several more organizations.

Lieutenant Colonel Gray traveled extensively to North, Central and South America, Europe, Africa, Asia and Australia. He is survived by his wife, Dianne, his 6 children, and 10 grandchildren. 
Leo Gray's Obituary at Sun-Sentinel
Tuskegee Airmen Combat Records & Accomplishments
Picture
2 Comments
Mercedes Frassetti
9/25/2016 02:02:02 pm

We at Gulfstream Chapter AMMV are sadden at the passing of our member Lt. Col. Leo Gray. We will remember his talks on his life as a Tuskegee Airman during WW11. Gone but not forgotten.

Reply
J. & M. Bloom
9/25/2016 02:12:29 pm

We lose another great generation man, gone but never forgotten. God speed.

Reply

Your comment will be posted after it is approved.


Leave a Reply.

    Naval Air Station Fort Lauderdale Museum

    Picture

    ​National Register of Historic Places. A 
    Florida Heritage Site. Only remaining structure from WWII left on the naval base property
    . Home of Flight 19 one of the great aviation mysteries. A 501 (c)(3) non-profit organization. The Only Military Museum in Broward County.

    Browse Museum's Giftshop:
    Support the Museum at Amazon
    Picture
    Picture

    Archives

    March 2022
    February 2021
    October 2020
    August 2020
    May 2020
    March 2020
    January 2020
    August 2019
    July 2019
    February 2019
    November 2018
    October 2018
    September 2018
    July 2018
    May 2018
    November 2017
    September 2017
    August 2017
    July 2017
    June 2017
    May 2017
    April 2017
    March 2017
    February 2017
    January 2017
    December 2016
    November 2016
    October 2016
    September 2016
    July 2016
    June 2016
    May 2016
    April 2016
    March 2016
    February 2016
    January 2016
    December 2015
    November 2015
    October 2015
    September 2015
    August 2015
    July 2015
    June 2015
    May 2015
    April 2015
    March 2015
    February 2015
    January 2015
    December 2014
    November 2014
    October 2014
    September 2014
    August 2014
    July 2014
    June 2014
    May 2014
    April 2014
    March 2014
    February 2014
    January 2014
    December 2013
    November 2013
    October 2013
    September 2013
    August 2013
    July 2013
    June 2013
    May 2013
    April 2013
    March 2013
    February 2013
    January 2013
    December 2012
    November 2012
    October 2012
    September 2012
    August 2012
    July 2012
    June 2012
    May 2012
    April 2012
    March 2012
    February 2012
    January 2012
    December 2011
    November 2011
    October 2011
    September 2011
    July 2011
    June 2011
    May 2011
    April 2011
    March 2011
    February 2011
    January 2011

    Categories

    All
    776th Tank Batallion
    Admiral Jim Black
    Admiral Michael Yurina
    AeroQuest.org
    Airborne Leaflet Propaganda
    Aircraft Paint Schemes
    Aircraft Torpedo Camera
    Air Show
    Alexander Nininger
    Allan Mcelhiney
    Allan Mcelhiney
    AmazonSmile.org
    Amelia Earhart
    Anastasia Clark
    Anita Zanky
    Anthony Cusolito
    Arthur Mulock
    Avenger
    Aviation Calendar
    Aviation Mystery
    Aviators Flight Diaries
    Bcad
    Board Of Directors
    Boca Raton Pilots Association
    Bombing Squadron 243
    Brad White
    Brazilian Expeditionary Force BEF
    Brick Donation Program
    Brigadier General Jack Cram
    Bromley And Cook
    Broward Goes To War
    Broward Navy Days
    Broward Navy League
    Cal Taylor
    Captain James Westfall
    Captain Rich Kenin
    Charles Schaus
    Christiana Marcroft
    City Hall Exhibit
    Commemorative Coin
    Connect
    Curtiss Pusher
    Cyril Dobrovolc
    Daughters Of American Revolution
    DAV Chapter 133
    David Epstein
    David Epstein
    David Flynn
    David Plumb
    David White
    Denmark Flight 19 Group
    Dino Carpi
    Donald Prichard
    Donations
    Doolittle Raiders
    Ecountyline
    Edgar Buddy Galvin
    Edgar Buddy Galvin
    Edward Odabashian
    Edward Steidler
    Elaine L. Chao
    ESPN Channel
    Exhibits
    Fleet Week
    Flight 19
    Flight 19 Naval Report
    Flight 19 Search
    Fort Lauderdale Fire Museum
    Fort Lauderdale History Center
    Frank Frezza
    Franklyn E. Dailey Jr.
    Freedom Awards
    Fundraising Events
    Gary Kilbride
    Gary Lee Littrell
    George Beyer Fairchild
    George Bush
    George F. Weixler
    George Lord
    George Maznicki
    George Tanelian
    Giancarlo Chatara
    Gift Shop
    Gino Martone
    Gold Coast Railroad Museum
    Goodyear Blimp
    Gordon Hartman
    Gunter Diehl
    Hank Petri
    Henry Flagler
    Henry Torres
    Herbert Weigand
    Heritage Of Valor
    Home Schoolers
    Homestead Airshow
    Honor Flight
    Howell Thompson
    How To Fly The Flag
    IMAX
    Intown Publications
    Jack Cawley
    Janos Victor Lutz
    Janos-victor-lutz
    Japanese Wwii Photo Album
    Japanese Wwii Propaganda
    Jeanne Grushinski
    Joe Cobb
    John Bowen
    John Casey
    Jon E Krupnick96db44b826
    Jon F Myhreca3bfa406e
    Judge Edward Merrigan
    Ken Kaye
    Ken-kaye
    Kermit Weeks
    K Price Randelb76bf274f6
    Kukan
    Kurt Langsenkamp
    Lani Day
    Legion Of Honor
    Leo Gray
    Leroy Crouch
    Letters
    Lhp Keepers Day
    Library
    Linkedin
    Link Trainer
    Link Trainer Building
    Lone-survivor
    Lori Parrish
    Lou Grab
    Lou Seldon
    Loyce Deen
    Luncheons
    Malcolm Barker
    Marc Poveromo
    Margaret A. Ahnert
    Marilyn Johnston
    Mariner 49
    Mariner 49 Expedition
    Matthew Yee
    Maurice J. Baird-Smith
    Medal Of Honor
    Membership
    Memorial Brick Program
    Memorial Day
    Michael Barker
    Military Art
    Military History Research Foundation
    Military Museum South Florida
    Military Patches
    Military Show
    Mission 31
    Model Aircraft
    Mysteries At The Museum
    Nasfl History
    Nasfl-history
    Nas Richmond
    Nas Sanford
    National Poetry Month
    Naval Aviator
    Navy Heritage Project
    Navy Park
    Newsletter
    Nose Art
    Old Seven Mile Bridge
    Online Only Exhibits
    Open House
    Otto Schwarz
    Pan Am
    Paul Bradley
    Pbm Mariner 49
    Percy-paget
    Pete And Maddie Husta
    Peter Accornero
    Philippine-scouts
    Phillip Bower
    Producer Ron Lowther
    Project 19
    Project Mariner 49
    Ray Rivera
    Ray Rivera
    Rebecca Jones
    Rey Scott
    Richard Haddad
    Rick Makowski
    Robert Gallivan
    Ron Wilen
    Roy J. Urbanek
    Senator John Mccain
    Service Men Center
    Seymour Baumgartner
    Shopping For Soldiers
    SMART
    Squadron Two VQ-2
    Stearman Fly-in Show
    Stephen J. Engasser
    Strikers Flight 19
    Sue Presley
    Survivor Outreach Services
    Survivor Stories
    Thalassa
    The Lost Pilot
    Thomas Tex Ellison
    Torpedoes
    Travel Channel
    Travel For Aircraft
    Tuskegee Airmen
    Udt-seal Museum
    Us Coast Guard
    Uss Bunker Hill
    Uss Gettysburg
    Uss Houston
    Uss Montrose
    USS New York
    Uss Pine Island
    Uss Saratoga
    Uss Taylor
    Valiant Air Command Museum
    Veterans
    Veterans Court
    Veterans History Project
    Veterans Memorial Museum
    Vets Helping Heroes
    Vietnam Memoir
    Volunteer
    Volunteer Of The Month
    Volunteers
    Walter R. Parpart
    War Illustrators
    War Photographer
    War Stories
    William Hopwood
    William Lightfoot
    William Thomas Wright
    Willys Jeep
    Wings Of Freedom
    Woody Woodbury
    Wreaths Across America
    Wwii Love Letters
    Wwii Saipan
    Wwii Torpedoes

Copyright © NAS Fort Lauderdale Museum
For use of images or text please contact webmaster
Website created by Moonrisings, August 3, 2010
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Naval Air Station Fort Lauderdale Museum
4000 West Perimeter Road
Ft. Lauderdale, FL 33315


Phone: (954) 359-4400
HOURS: THURSDAY, SATURDAY, & SUNDAY
from 11:30 am to 3:30 pm
​
Events Blog | Contact | Tours
 | Privacy