Thomas Gray, VC (17 May 1914 – 12 May 1940) was a British airman and a recipient of the Victoria Cross, the highest award for gallantry in the face of the enemy that can be awarded to British and Commonwealth forces.

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Overview

Thomas Gray, VC (17 May 1914 – 12 May 1940) was a British airman and a recipient of the Victoria Cross, the highest award for gallantry in the face of the enemy that can be awarded to British and Commonwealth forces. RAF career Gray was 25 years old, and a sergeant in 12 Squadron, Royal Air Force during the Second World War when the following deed took place for which he and his pilot Flying Officer Donald Garland were awarded the VC in a joint citation. On 12 May 1940, over the Albert Canal, Belgium, one bridge in particular was being used by the invading German army, with protection from fighter aircraft, anti-aircraft and machine-guns. The RAF was ordered to demolish this vital bridge, and five Fairey Battle bombers were despatched with Sergeant Gray as the navigator in the plane leading the bombing attack. They met an inferno of anti-aircraft fire, but the mission was accomplished, much of the success being due to the coolness and resourcefulness of pilot Donald Garland of the leading aircraft and the navigation of Sergeant Gray. Only one aircraft made it back to base. Gray is buried at the Heverlee War Cemetery near Leuven in Belgium.

From Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 4.0).

Notable quotes

“While bright-eyed Science watches round.”
— Ode for Music (1769), Chorus, line 3
“And weep the more, because I weep in vain.”
— Sonnet, On the Death of Mr. West; reported in Bartlett's Familiar Quotations, 10th ed. (1919)
“Now as the Paradisiacal pleasures of the Mahometans consist in playing upon the flute and lying with Houris, be mine to read eternal new romances of Marivaux and Crebillon.”
— To Mr. West, Letter iv, Third Series; reported in Bartlett's Familiar Quotations, 10th ed. (1919)
“Or ope the sacred source of sympathetic tears.”
— III. 1, Line 12
“The breezy call of incense-breathing morn.”
— St. 5
“To high-born Hoel's harp, or soft Llewellyn's lay.”
— I. 2. line 28

Quotes via Wikiquote (CC BY-SA), each with its original source.

Thomas Gray across IJR

Studio characters

Thomas GrayFamously busy. Currently all yours.Thomas GrayThe Canadian rower with nowhere else to be today.

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