Gray, Robert Manning “Bob”, born in 24-05-1919, in Killeen, Bell County, Texas, USA, 
to James Marvin Gray (1890-1966) and his wife Cordelia, born Manning Gray ( 1891–1985). He had one sister Marjorie Gray Philliber who died 20-01-1994 (age 77) 
Gray left college in June 1940 to enter the US Air Corps’ Aviation Cadet 
Program,and within a year, he earned his wings and was commissioned a second lieutenant. He was soon flying B-25 bombers.
In February 1942, then-First Lieutenant. Gray was selected to take part in the planned raid on Japan. On 18-04-1942, the Doolittle Raiders 
and their 16 B-25s were aboard 
off Japan. Gray’s B-25—he named itWhiskey Pete, after a horse—was third off the carrier. No. 3 approached Tokyo atlow level, popped up, and dropped three 500-pound bombs. 
His crew were, Gray on the left, Co-pilot, 2nd Lieutenant. Jack E. Manch, Navigator 2nd Lieutenant. Charles V. Ozuk, Bombadier. – Sergeant. Aden E. Jones 
and Engineer-Gunner Corporal. Leland Dale Factor Aden Jones died on 09-03-1983, and was buried at the Forest Lawn Memorial Park in Covina, California.
The first struck a steel plant. The second made a direct hit on a gas works. The third hit a chemical plant, setting it on fire. For good measure Gray shot up a barracks on the way out. As planned, Gray turned toward China. He searched for a friendly airfield, but the B-25 ran out of fuel and the crew bailed out over China. Gray, the last to jump, did so at 6,200 feet and landed on a mountain peak. Gray evaded capture and linked up with several Whiskey Pete crew members. Corporal Leland Dale Faktor, 
No. 3’s engineer-gunner,was killed, age 20, in the jump, but the others made it to safety in Chunking.
Death and burial ground of Gray, Robert Manning “Bob”.
Following the raid, Gray was promoted to captain. He was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross, 
whose citation noted that Gray “volunteered for this mission knowing full well that the chances of survival were extremely remote.” Gray stayed in the China-Burma-India Theater, based in India. He was killed on 18-10-1942, age 23, when his B-25 bomber crashed during a combat mission over Assam, near Burma. His remains were returned to the US and were buried in Killeen. Hollywood in 1944 turned out “Thirty Seconds Over Tokyo,” the first film about the raid. Gray was portrayed by Robert Mitchum. To honor Gray, USAF in 1948 gave his name to a new flying facility near Killeen, Robert Gray Air Force Base. 
It was built to handle heavy bombers and was used to support Killeen Base, a nearby nuclear weapons storage site. Robert Gray Air Force Base existed for some 15 years. In June 1963, USAF relinquished control to the Army, which promptly renamed it Robert Gray Army Airfield. The name persists today
Gray, Robert Manning “Bob”, is buried at the Killeen City Cemetery, Killeen, Bell County, Texas, VS. 2408 E Rancier Ave, Killeen, TX 76543.
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