Gray Eagle Award
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The Gray Eagle Award is presented to the senior Naval Aviator in the U.S. Navy or Marine Corps.
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[edit] History
The Gray Eagle Trophy made its first appearance in 1961 during the Navy's celebration of the Fiftieth Anniversary of Naval Aviation.
[edit] The original idea
In 1959, while serving as Commander in Chief, Allied Forces, Southern Europe, Admiral Charles R. Brown, USN, wrote to the Deputy Chief of Naval Operations (Air), Vice Admiral Robert B. Pirie, USN, telling of certain discussions he had with Vice Admiral George W. Anderson, then serving as Commander, Sixth Fleet.
"We suggest that it be determined from official records who, at all times, is the senior aviator in point of service in flying; that a baton or similar token be awarded him, and that, with due ceremony, this symbol be handed on down to the next man with the passing years."
Admiral Pirie took the matter from there. For a time the title “Bull Naval Aviator” was a leading contender for the choice of names for the senior aviator’s title. Various cups, statuettes, plaques and medals were proposed. Finally, a competition was conducted between aircraft companies desiring to sponsor the award. The design from the Chance Vought Aircraft Company (later LTV Corporation, Ling-Temco-Vought) was selected, and the Gray Eagle Award was brought into reality.
[edit] The first ceremony
On 5 January 1961, at Naval Aviation’s Fiftieth Anniversary Ball, held at the Sheraton Park Hotel, Washington, D.C., Admiral Charles R. Brown received the Gray Eagle Trophy from Admiral James S. Russell, then serving as Vice Chief of Naval Operations.
While Admiral Brown was the first “active” aviator to receive the Trophy, replicas of the award were presented to all previous holders of the distinction, or their representative, during the ceremony. The recipients included Mrs. T. G. Ellyson, widow of Naval Aviator Number One, Commander Theodore G. Ellyson. Commander Ellyson would have held the Gray Eagle title from 1911 to 1928, if the award had been in existence.
[edit] The Trophy
The Trophy, donated by Chance Vought Aircraft (now Ling-Temco-Vought) depicts a silver eagle landing into the arresting gear of the Navy’s first aircraft carrier, USS Langley (CV-1). The inscription reads:
“The Venerable Order of the Gray Eagle. The Most Ancient Naval Aviator on Active Duty. In recognition of a clear eye, a stout heart, a steady hand, and a daring defiance of gravity and the law of averages.”
Names of those who have held the title, either actively or prior to the 1961 ceremony, are inscribed on the trophy’s plaque.
The Gray Eagle Trophy may be kept in possession of and displayed by the command to which the Gray Eagle is assigned. Otherwise, it may be placed in the custody of the National Museum of Naval Aviation on a temporary basis until required for presentation to the successor. It should be noted that the ceremony date for the presentation of the Gray Eagle Award and the retirement date are not always the same.
The award is passed down from the previous holder of the award on his or her retirement, or in case of death. A miniature replica is presented to each incumbent as a personal memento.
[edit] Eligibility
Eligibility for the Gray Eagle Award is determined by the official active-duty precedence list for Naval Aviators, on continuous service, not recalled, who has held that designation for the longest period of time. The date of designation as a Naval Aviator is the governing factor for determining who will receive the award from the list of active duty officers. In the event that two or more aviators on active duty have been designated on the same date, the senior one qualified as the Gray Eagle.
[edit] Recipients
| Name | Rank (death/retire) | Naval Aviator No. | Date as Naval Aviator | Dates as Gray Eagle |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Theodore G. Ellyson | CDR | 1 | 2 Jun 1911 | 2 Jun 1911–27 Feb 1928 |
| John H. Towers | ADM | 3 | 14 Sep 1911 | 27 Feb 1928–1 Dec 1947 |
| George D. Murray | VADM | 22 | 20 Sep 1915 | 1 Dec 1947–1 Aug 1951 |
| DeWitt C. Ramsey | ADM | 45 | 31 May 1917 | 1 Dec 1947–1 May 1949 |
| Henry T. Stanley | CAPT | 186 | 17 Dec 1917 | 1 May 1949–1 Sep 1950 |
| William W. Townsley | CAPT | 320 | 13 Feb 1918 | 1 Aug 195l–1 Jul 1955 |
| Alvin O. Preil | CAPT | 538 | 11 Mar 1918 | 1 Jul 1955–1 Jan 1959 |
| Irving M. McQuiston | RADM | 905 | 12 Jun 1918 | 1 Jan 1959–1 Jul 1959 |
| Alfred M. Pride | VADM | 1119 | 17 Sep 1918 | 1 Jul 1959–1 Oct 1959 |
| Thomas S. Combs | VADM | 3064 | 21 Dec 1922 | 1 Oct 1959–1 Apr 1960 |
| Charles R. Brown ** | ADM | 3159 | 15 Aug 1924 | 1 Apr 1960–2 Jan 1962 |
| Frank Akers | RADM | 3228 | 11 Sep 1925 | 2 Jan 1962–1 Apr 1963 |
| Wallace M. Beakley | RADM | 3312 | 24 Nov 1926 | 1 Apr 1963–31 Dec 1963 |
| Robert Goldthwaite | RADM | 3364 | 20 May 1927 | 31 Dec 1963–1 Oct 1965 |
| Richard C. Mangrum | LGEN(MC) | 4447 | 20 May 1929 | 1 Oct 1965–30 Jun 1967 |
| Fitzhugh Lee | VADM | 3512 | 16 Sep 1929 | 30 Jun 1967–31 July 1967 |
| Chalres D. Griffin | ADM | 3647 | 6 Jun 1930 | 31 Jul 1967–1 Feb 1968 |
| Alexander S. Heyward, Jr. | VADM | 3867 | 23 Nov 1931 | 1 Feb 1968–1 Aug 1968 |
| Robert J. Stroh | RADM | 3888 | 25 Jan 1932 | 1 Aug 1968–28 Nov 1969 |
| George P. Koch | RADM | 4085 | 2 Jan 1935 | 28 Nov 1969–31 Jul 1971 |
| Alfred R. Matter | RADM | 4164 | 30 Oct 1935 | 31 Jul 1971–29 Feb 1972 |
| Francis D. Foley | RADM | 4178 | 1 Feb 1936 | 29 Feb 1972–29 Jun 1972 |
| Thomas H. Moorer | ADM | 4255 | 12 Jun 1936 | 29 Jun 1972–30 Jun 1974 |
| Leroy V. Swanson | RADM | 5921 | 9 Dec 1938 | 30 Jun 1974–29 Aug 1975 |
| Noel A. M. Gayler | ADM | 6879 | 14 Nov 1940 | 29 Aug 1975–31 Aug 1976 |
| Martin D. Carmody | RADM | 10911 | 22 Jan 1942 | 31 Aug 1976–27 May 1977 |
| George L. Cassel | RADM | 11262 | 3 Feb 1942 | 27 May 1977–31 Aug 1977 |
| Henry Wildfang | CWO4(MC) | 12766 | 16 Apr 1942 | 31 Aug 1977–31 May 1978 |
| Frank C. Lang | MGEN(MC) | - | 12 Mar 1943 | 31 May 1978–30 Jun 1978 |
| Thomas H. Miller, Jr. | LGEN(MC) | - | 24 Apr 1943 | 30 Jun 1978–28 Jun 1979 |
| Maurice F. Weisner | ADM | - | May 1943 | 28 Jun 1979–31 Oct 1979 |
| Andrew W. O’Donnell | LGEN(MC) | - | 8 Jul 1944 | 31 Oct 1979–26 Jun 1981 |
| Robert F. Schoultz | VADM | - | - | 26 Jun 1981–17 Feb 1987 |
| Cecil J. Kempf | VADM | - | - | 25 Feb 1987–6 June 1987 |
| James E. Service | VADM | - | - | 6 Jun 1987–21 Aug 1987 |
| Frank E. Petersen, Jr. | LGEN(MC) | - | - | 21 Aug 1987–15 Jun 1988 |
| Ronald J. Hays | ADM | - | - | 15 Jun 1988–15 Sep 1988 |
| Robert F. Dunn | VADM | - | - | 15 Sep 1988–25 May 1989 |
| Huntington Hardisty | ADM | - | - | 25 May 1989–1 Mar 1991 |
| Jerome L. Johnson | ADM | - | - | 1 Mar 1991–26 Jul 1992 |
| Edwin R. Kohn | VADM | - | Jun 1956 | 26 Jul 1992–1 Jul 1993 |
| Jerry O. Tuttle | VADM | - | - | 1 Jul 1993–19 Nov 1993 |
| Stanley R. Arthur | ADM | - | - | 19 Nov 1993–21 Mar 1995 |
| David R. Morris | RADM | - | - | 21 Mar 1995– |
** Charles R. Brown was the first to receive the award while on active duty; earlier awards were retroactive.
[edit] References
This article includes public domain information collected from the Naval Historical Center.
- Grossnick, Roy, et al. Appendix 32. "Gray Eagle Award." History of Naval Aviation 1910-1995. Washington, D.C.: Naval Historical Center, 1997.
