This photo is of a B-17 that I flew on this past year. After only airborne for 45 minutes total, I have the greatest respect for Mr. Gay. A hero indeed after 51 missions.Jack Demaree See more photos
Greeley Gay of Versailles 1918 - 2011
After Pearl Harbor, with more serious intention, he was enrolled in the Army Air Corps, training as a pilot. He received his pilot’s certification and his wings on June 26, 1943, and headed to Europe in the late fall of 1943. Piloting a B-17 Flying Fortress bomber out of an 8th Air Force base in the midlands of England, he flew twelve missions over France and Germany. He then transferred to the 15th Air Force in Foggia, Italy. He flew the remainder of his 51 bombing missions over Italy, France, Germany and Eastern Europe. He received the Air Medal and three Oak Leaf Clusters. He returned to the US in late summer of 1944, and continued instructor’s training and flying training missions over the US. He was discharged from the Army as a First Lieutenant in the Summer of 1945.
