Gray Eagle Award
The Gray Eagle Award is presented to the Naval Aviator on continuous active duty in U.S. Navy or Marine Corps who has held that designation for the longest period of time. A similar trophy, the Gray Owl Award, is also presented to the Naval Flight Officer on continuous active duty in the U.S Navy or Marine Corps who has held that designation for the longest period of time.[1]
Because they are also considered Naval Aviators, a third award, the Ancient Albatross Award, is the equivalent to the Gray Eagle Award in the United States Coast Guard and is presented under circumstances similar to that of the Gray Eagle.
History
The Gray Eagle Trophy made its first appearance in 1961 during the Navy's celebration of the Fiftieth Anniversary of Naval Aviation.
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.
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.
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. 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.
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.
Recipients
| Name | Rank (death/retire) | Naval Aviator No. | Date as Naval Aviator | Dates as Gray Eagle |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Theodore G. Ellyson | CDR | 1 | 2 June 1911 | 2 June 1911 – 27 February 1928 |
| John H. Towers | ADM | 3 | 14 September 1911 | 27 February 1928 – 1 December 1947 |
| George D. Murray | VADM | 22 | 20 September 1915 | 1 December 1947 – 1 August 1951 |
| DeWitt C. Ramsey | ADM | 45 | 31 May 1917 | 1 December 1947 – 1 May 1949 |
| Henry T. Stanley | CAPT | 186 | 17 December 1917 | 1 May 1949 – 1 September 1950 |
| William W. Townsley | CAPT | 320 | 13 February 1918 | 1 August 1951 – 1 July 1955 |
| Alvin O. Preil | CAPT | 538 | 11 March 1918 | 1 July 1955 – 1 January 1959 |
| Irving M. McQuiston | RADM | 905 | 12 June 1918 | 1 January 1959 – 1 July 1959 |
| Alfred M. Pride | VADM | 1119 | 17 September 1918 | 1 July 1959 – 1 October 1959 |
| Thomas S. Combs | VADM | 3064 | 21 December 1922 | 1 October 1959 – 1 April 1960 |
| Charles R. Brown * | ADM | 3159 | 15 August 1924 | 1 April 1960 – 2 January 1962 |
| Frank Akers | RADM | 3228 | 11 September 1925 | 2 January 1962 – 1 April 1963 |
| Wallace M. Beakley | RADM | 3312 | 24 November 1926 | 1 April 1963 – 31 December 1963 |
| Robert Goldthwaite | RADM | 3364 | 20 May 1927 | 31 December 1963 – 1 October 1965 |
| Richard C. Mangrum | LtGen (USMC) | 4447 | 20 May 1929 | 1 October 1965 – 30 June 1967 |
| Fitzhugh Lee | VADM | 3512 | 16 September 1929 | 30 June 1967 – 31 July 1967 |
| Charles D. Griffin | ADM | 3647 | 6 June 1930 | 31 July 1967 – 1 February 1968 |
| Alexander S. Heyward, Jr. | VADM | 3867 | 23 November 1931 | 1 February 1968 – 1 August 1968 |
| Robert J. Stroh | RADM | 3888 | 25 January 1932 | 1 August 1968 – 28 November 1969 |
| George P. Koch | RADM | 4085 | 2 January 1935 | 28 November 1969 – 31 July 1971 |
| Alfred R. Matter | RADM | 4164 | 30 October 1935 | 31 July 1971 – 29 February 1972 |
| Francis D. Foley | RADM | 4178 | 1 February 1936 | 29 February 1972 – 29 June 1972 |
| Thomas H. Moorer | ADM | 4255 | 12 June 1936 | 29 June 1972 – 30 June 1974 |
| Leroy V. Swanson | RADM | 5921 | 9 December 1938 | 30 June 1974 – 29 August 1975 |
| Noel A. M. Gayler | ADM | 6879 | 14 November 1940 | 29 August 1975 – 31 August 1976 |
| Martin D. Carmody | RADM | 10911 | 22 January 1942 | 31 August 1976 – 27 May 1977 |
| George L. Cassel | RADM | 11262 | 3 February 1942 | 27 May 1977 – 31 August 1977 |
| Henry Wildfang | CWO4 (USMC) | 12766 | 16 April 1942 | 31 August 1977 – 31 May 1978 |
| Frank C. Lang | MajGen (USMC) | - | 12 March 1943 | 31 May 1978 – 30 June 1978 |
| Thomas H. Miller, Jr. | LtGen (USMC) | - | 24 April 1943 | 30 June 1978 – 28 June 1979 |
| Maurice F. Weisner | ADM | - | May 1943 | 28 June 1979 – 31 October 1979 |
| Andrew W. O’Donnell | LtGen (USMC) | - | 8 July 1944 | 31 October 1979 – 26 June 1981 |
| Robert F. Schoultz | VADM | - | - | 26 June 1981 – 17 February 1987 |
| Cecil J. Kempf | VADM | - | - | 25 February 1987 – 6 June 1987 |
| James E. Service | VADM | - | - | 6 June 1987 – 21 August 1987 |
| Frank E. Petersen, Jr. | LtGen (USMC) | - | - | 21 August 1987 – 15 June 1988 |
| Ronald J. Hays | ADM | - | - | 15 June 1988 – 15 September 1988 |
| Robert F. Dunn | VADM | - | - | 15 September 1988 – 25 May 1989 |
| Huntington Hardisty | ADM | - | - | 25 May 1989 – 1 March 1991 |
| Jerome L. Johnson | ADM | - | - | 1 March 1991 – 26 July 1992 |
| Edwin R. Kohn | VADM | - | Jun 1956 | 26 July 1992 – 1 July 1993 |
| Jerry O. Tuttle | VADM | - | - | 1 July 1993 – 19 November 1993 |
| Stanley R. Arthur | ADM | - | - | 19 November 1993 – 21 March 1995 |
| David R. Morris | RADM | - | - | 21 March 1995 – 28 February 1996 |
| Walter Davis | VADM | - | - | 28 February 1996 – 1 January 1997 |
| Luther Schriefer | RADM | - | - | 1 January 1997 – 1 February 1997 |
| Andrew Granuzzo | RADM | - | - | 1 February 1997 – 24 March 2000 |
| James I. Maslowski | RADM | - | - | 24 March 2000 – 20 December 2000 |
| Arthur K. Cebrowski | VADM | - | - | 20 December 2000 – 16 August 2001 |
| Robert M. Nutwell | RADM | - | - | 16 August 2001 – 26 September 2001 |
| Michael D. Haskins | VADM | - | - | 26 September 2001 – 1 January 2003 |
| Charles W. Moore, Jr. | VADM | - | - | 1 January 2003 – 1 October 2004 |
| Gregory G. Johnson | ADM | - | - | 1 October 2004 – 29 November 2004 |
| Robert Magnus | Gen (USMC) | - | - | 29 November 2004 – 17 July 2008 |
| James F. Amos | Gen (USMC) | - | - | 17 July 2008 – 17 October 2014 |
| William E. Gortney | ADM | - | - | 18 October 2014 – current |
* Charles R. Brown was the first to receive the award while on active duty; earlier awards were retroactive.
** Naval Aviator designation numbers were not issued after the beginning of WWII.
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.
- Gray Eagles, Naval Historical Center