Gray, Lemuel William (Flying Officer)

Killed in Action 1944-August-23

Flying Officer Lemuel William Gray RCAF

Birth Date: 1917

Born:

Son of William and Thirza Gray; husband of Alice Gray, of Springhill, Nova Scotia.

Home: Westville, Nova Scotia

Enlistment:

Enlistment Date: Unknown

Service

RCAF

Unit

454 Sqn- Squadron (RAAF)

Base

Rank

Flying Officer

Position

Flying Officer

Service Numbers

J/21425

Home
Google MapWestville, Nova Scotia
Temporary Burial
Google MapUSA Military Cemetery, Follonica
Final Burial
Google MapFlorence War Cemetery
VIII G 16

William Gray Lemuel was the son of William and Thirza Gray, and husband of Alice (Murray) Gray of Springhill, NS. He was born in Westville in 1917. Prior to going to war Lemuel had worked as an electrician and as a mechanic.

He enlisted in the RCAF on 5 November 1939 and was posted to 11 Bomber Reconnaissance Squadron RCAF in June 1940 as an aero-engine mechanic. Leading Aircraftman (Leading Aircraftsman) Gray was promoted to Acting/Sergeant in June 1941 and was posted to Alberta for pilot training.

In December 1942 he qualified as a pilot, was commissioned as a Pilot Officer and posted to Halifax where he would catch a ship for England. He arrived in England in January 1943 and was posted to the RAF. In January 1944 he was posted to 454 Squadron (Royal Australian Air Force) in Libya as part of the Desert Air Force.

In July 1944 his squadron relocated to Pescara Italy. The 454 Squadron followed the advance of the Allies and relocated to Falconara on 18 August.

On 23 August, Lem was at the controls of Martin Baltimore bomber FW 602 on a bombing mission over Limestre Italy (north of Venice). FW 602 was hit by flak over the target and then dropped out of formation gradually losing height. Lem was working hard to get the crippled aircraft into friendly airspace. He was killed making a crash landing near Pisa. All of Lem's crew survived and swore they owed their lives to his skill in bringing the crippled aircraft home.

Flying Officer Gray was buried with full military honours in the United States Military Cemetery in Follonica. His body was relocated to the Florence War Cemetery after the war.

source: Gary Silliker, Bomber Command Museum of Canada

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Fying Officer, Gray, Lemuel William, Grave Marker, Florence War Cemetery
.

Canadian Virtual War Memorial

Library and Archives Canada Service Files (may not exist)

Baltimore serial: FW602

A Royal Air Force Martin Baltimore IV/V bomber. Most aircraft were delivered to Commonwealth countries, a few were kept in the U.S. under the USAAF designation A-30.
USAAF - Official U.S. Air Force photo 051122-F-1234P-023

The Martin 187 Baltimore was a twin-engined light attack bomber built by the Glenn L. Martin Company in the United States as the A-30. The model was originally ordered by the French in May 1940 as a follow-up to the earlier Martin Maryland, then in service in France. With the fall of France, the production series was diverted to Great Britain and after mid-1941, supplied by the U.S. as Lend Lease equipment.

Development of the Baltimore was hindered by a series of problems, although the type eventually became a versatile combat aircraft. Produced in large numbers, the Baltimore was not used operationally by United States armed forces but eventually served with the British, Canadian, Australian, South African, Hellenic and the Italian air forces. it was subsequently used almost exclusively in the Mediterranean and Middle East theatre of World War II. Wikipedia

Wikipedia Wikipedia Martin Baltimore Bomber

unvetted Source Harold A Skaarup Web Page

YouTube Martin Baltimore Bomber