John R. Gray was born on 26 April 1918, the son of Mr. and Mrs. Allen Gray.  He graduated from Bloomington High School, and then attended Illinois Wesleyan University where he was a member of the Sigma Chi fraternity.  He also studied art in Chicago, Illinois.  John volunteered for the USAAF in April of 1942 and joined the Aviation Cadet program.  Although he was initially trained as a bombardier, he later qualified to serve as a navigator.  John was then assigned to the 413th Bomb Squadron of the 96th Bomb Group.  He served as the navigator on a B-17 nicknamed the Short Stride IV that was piloted by 1LT James McLean.  On 4 January 1944, the Short Stride IV was on a mission to bomb Munster, Germany.  At around 10.30, the bomber began to take its position for the initial point of attack when the pilot was momentarily blinded as he flew directly into the sun.  The Short Stride IV collided with another B-17 nicknamed the Skin and Bones. John was killed in this collision.  The pilot, James McLean, the copilot, Harold Zlotnik, the flight engineer/top turret gunner, Richard Wynn, and the Waist Gunner, David Miller, Jr., are also buried at the Ardennes American Cemetery.

Information provided by Wim Jacobs and from The Snetterton Falcons by Robert E. Doherty and Geoffrey D. Ward.