Lieutenant Robert Hampton Gray, VC, DSC, RCNVR - Ottawa, Ontario
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Weathervane
N 45° 18.985 W 075° 53.860
18T E 429640 N 5018493
This plaque, in tribute to Lieutenant Robert Gray is located in the park that bears his name, on Gray Crescent, in Ottawa. Cette plaque, en hommage au lieutenant Robert Gray, est située dans le parc qui porte son nom, sur le croissant Gray, à Ottawa.
Waymark Code: WM10KV2
Location: Ontario, Canada
Date Posted: 05/24/2019
Views: 3
Inscription found on memorial
Lieutenant Robert Hampton Gray, VC, DSC, RCNVR
Robert Hampton Gray was born on November 2, 1917 in Trail, British Columbia. He joined the Royal Canadian Naval Volunteer Reserve in July 1940 and was assigned to the Royal Navy’s Fleet Air Arm where he trained as a fighter pilot.
On July 28, 1945, Gray was awarded the Distinguished Service Cross for aiding in the destruction of a destroyer in the Tokyo area. He was awarded the Victoria Cross posthumously for destroying the enemy escort vessel Amakusa in Onagawa Wan Bay on August 9, 1945 where he led eight Corsair fighters from the HMS Formidable on a mission to bomb enemy shipping in Onagawa Wan. As Gray dove his plane for the attack, he was met with heavy anti-aircraft fire. His aircraft was hit almost immediately and caught fire. Determined to complete his mission, Gray released a bomb which resulted in a direct hit and the immediate sinking of the Amakusa. Gray continued flying but moments later the burning aircraft rolled over and crashed into the bay at high speed. Neither the aircraft nor Gray was ever found. Gray was one of the last Canadians to die in combat in WW II.
Robert Hamotin Gray est né le 2 novembre 1917 à Trail (Columbie-Britannique). Il s’est joint à la Réserve Volontaire de la Marine royale du Canada en juillet 1940 et a été affecté à l’aviation navale de la Royal Navy, où il a reçu un entraînement de pilote de chasse.
Le 28 juillet 1945, Gray s’est vu attribuer la Croix de service distingué pour avoir participé à la destruction d’un contre-torpilleur dans la région de Tokyo. Il s’est également vu remettre la Croix de Victoria à titre posthume pour avoir détruit le navire d’escorte ennemi Amakusa, dans la baie d’Onagawa Wan le 9 août 1945, alors qu’il menait huit avions de chasse Corsair de HMS Formidable dans une mission de bombardement des navires marchands dans la baie d’Onagawa Wan. Au moment où il commençait à piquer pour passer à l’attaque, il essuya de puissants tir de défense contre son avion. Touché presque immédiatement, son appareil prit feu. Déterminé à achever sa mission, Gray largua une bombe qui frappa directement et fit couler l’Amakusa. Gray poursuivit son vol, mais quelques instants plus tard, son avion en flammes se retourna et plongea dans la baie à haute vitesse. Ni son corps no son avion ne furent jamais retrouvés. Gray fut l’un des derniers Canadiens à mourir au combat au cours de la Seconde Guerre mondiale.
Website pertaining to the memorial: [Web Link]
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Being outdoors, the memorial can be visited at any time. Etant à l'extérieur, le mémorial peut être visité en tout temps.
Entrance fees (if it applies): None - Aucun
Type of memorial: Plaque
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