Unknown - Unknown
F/L James Osborne 'Tex' Gray was a pilot with 439 Squadron during the Second World War.
From Typhoon and Tempest by Hugh Halliday: Page 116: March 23...."The boys heard about the RCAF troupe 'The Blackouts' which came to town, so we brought the WDs to our dispersal for the afternoon where they really enjoyed watching the normal activity including the kites taking off and landing. Later on, Fl/L Tex Gray, the lanky southerner with a unique southern drawl, who is the OC of coffee making, superbly quenched their thirst with the result of his culinary effort....Everyone tried to make dates, of course, but were foiled when briefing was called for 8:30 pm."
On page 161: "At about 1100 hours on March 30, 439 Squadron landed at the former Luftwaffe base at Goch, thus becoming the first Allied squadron to land in Germany. An hour later, Vic Le Gear led a section to the Rhine area. With him were F/L Tex Gray, F/O John Bullock and F/O Walt Kubicki...."
Information gathered in early 2025 from Michael Parkyn, of First Heroes of WW2 (see link below): "Gray was born in Delaware and raised in Maryland. He resided in Texas only during his Army pilot training in 1935 and again after WW2. I get the feeling he ran with the whole "Tex" thing. He was accepted to the U.S. Naval Academy (where he was known as "Red") and completed two years before leaving in 1935. Months later, he was recorded as a U.S. Army private undergoing pilot training at Randolph Field, Texas. (When midshipmen quit during or after their junior year, they can be held to finish their obligated service as enlisted personnel in the Navy. Gray's father had been an Army officer so I'm guessing they pulled a few strings). Gray served in 249 Squadron as late as June 1942 on Crete. On 8 June, he downed a Macchi 202 fighter but on return to Takili air base he undershot the runway. His Spitfire Vc was a total loss; Gray was admitted to a general hospital on Crete later that day. He next flew with 94 Squadron during 1942-43, flying Hurricanes in North Africa. he served in 112 Squadron flying Kittyhawks in Italy. While in 112 Squadron, he made a forced landing near Anzio beachhead after his plane was hit by antiaircaft fire. He returned to the squadron several days later, claiming to have learned to speak Italian. According to accounts on ancestry, he also claimed to have spent some time being nursed by nuns, who snuck him to safety in drag! (Warning — he strikes me as a teller of tall tales. the forced landing was fact, but none of the rest has been verified). Gray also served in 439 Squadron until it was decommissioned in the summer of 1945. He had volunteered to deploy to the Pacific theater, but I found no record of that happening."
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