Judson Fred Gray was born on December 15, 1917, in Riverside, Macon County, North Carolina. He was the son of John Javan Gray and Mary May Stiles Gray. He was married to Louise Elizabeth Blaine Ledford. He served in the 603rd Bomber Squadron, 398th Bomb Group, Heavy, as a Major and Co-Pilot, Mission, Squadron Commander of B-17 #42-107231 during World War II.

On May 24, 1944, B-17 #42-107231 participated in a bombing mission over Berlin. During the mission, the aircraft was hit by anti-aircraft fire (flak), which struck engines #3 and #4. The damage caused the aircraft to explode and crash near the Jungfernheide railway station in Berlin. Eight of the crew members were killed in action, and the remaining were taken as prisoners of war.

Maj Gray was Killed in Action and is now buried in the Salisbury National Cemetery, Salisbury, Rowan County, North Carolina, USA. Judson F. Gray's name is inscribed on the Anstey Window Memorial in Panel 1 (left), on Butterfly 4, in the bottom right wing (section D).

Source of information:www.americanairmuseum.com, B-17flyingfortress.de, www.398th.org