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.

Contents

[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.