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.

"The senior Navy or Marine Corps aviator maintains the title of Gray Eagle until the member retires and a new recipient is named from the official precedence list of prospective Gray Eagles, maintained by the Office of the Chief of Naval Operations."[2]

Recipients

Name Rank (death/retire) Naval Aviator No. Date as Naval Aviator Dates as Gray Eagle
Theodore G. EllysonCDR12 June 19112 June 1911 – 27 February 1928
John H. TowersADM314 September 191127 February 1928 – 1 December 1947
George D. MurrayVADM2220 September 19151 December 1947 – 1 August 1951
DeWitt C. RamseyADM4531 May 19171 December 1947 – 1 May 1949
Henry T. StanleyCAPT18617 December 19171 May 1949 – 1 September 1950
William W. TownsleyCAPT32013 February 19181 August 1951 – 1 July 1955
Alvin O. PreilCAPT53811 March 19181 July 1955 – 1 January 1959
Irving M. McQuistonRADM90512 June 19181 January 1959 – 1 July 1959
Alfred M. PrideVADM111917 September 19181 July 1959 – 1 October 1959
Thomas S. CombsVADM306421 December 19221 October 1959 – 1 April 1960
Charles R. Brown   *ADM315915 August 19241 April 1960 – 2 January 1962
Frank AkersRADM322811 September 19252 January 1962 – 1 April 1963
Wallace M. BeakleyRADM331224 November 19261 April 1963 – 31 December 1963
Robert GoldthwaiteRADM336420 May 192731 December 1963 – 1 October 1965
Richard C. MangrumLtGen (USMC)444720 May 19291 October 1965 – 30 June 1967
Fitzhugh LeeVADM351216 September 192930 June 1967 – 31 July 1967
Charles D. GriffinADM36476 June 193031 July 1967 – 1 February 1968
Alexander S. Heyward, Jr.VADM386723 November 19311 February 1968 – 1 August 1968
Robert J. StrohRADM388825 January 19321 August 1968 – 28 November 1969
George P. KochRADM40852 January 193528 November 1969 – 31 July 1971
Alfred R. MatterRADM416430 October 193531 July 1971 – 29 February 1972
Francis D. FoleyRADM41781 February 193629 February 1972 – 29 June 1972
Thomas H. MoorerADM425512 June 193629 June 1972 – 30 June 1974
Leroy V. SwansonRADM59219 December 193830 June 1974 – 29 August 1975
Noel A. M. GaylerADM687914 November 194029 August 1975 – 31 August 1976
Martin D. CarmodyRADM1091122 January 194231 August 1976 – 27 May 1977
George L. CasselRADM112623 February 194227 May 1977 – 31 August 1977
Henry WildfangCWO4 (USMC)1276616 April 194231 August 1977 – 31 May 1978
Frank C. LangMajGen (USMC)-12 March 194331 May 1978 – 30 June 1978
Thomas H. Miller, Jr.LtGen (USMC)-24 April 194330 June 1978 – 28 June 1979
Maurice F. WeisnerADM-May 194328 June 1979 – 31 October 1979
Andrew W. O’DonnellLtGen (USMC)-8 July 194431 October 1979 – 26 June 1981
Robert F. SchoultzVADM--26 June 1981 – 17 February 1987
Cecil J. KempfVADM-Nov 195125 February 1987 – 6 June 1987
James E. ServiceVADM--6 June 1987 – 21 August 1987
Frank E. Petersen, Jr.LtGen (USMC)-Oct 195221 August 1987 – 15 June 1988
Ronald J. HaysADM--15 June 1988 – 15 September 1988
Robert F. DunnVADM--15 September 1988 – 25 May 1989
Huntington HardistyADM--25 May 1989 – 1 March 1991
Jerome L. JohnsonADM--1 March 1991 – 26 July 1992
Edwin R. KohnVADM-Jun 195626 July 1992 – 1 July 1993
Jerry O. TuttleVADM-Oct 19561 July 1993 – 19 November 1993
Stanley R. ArthurADM--19 November 1993 – 21 March 1995
David R. MorrisRADM--21 March 1995 – 28 February 1996
Walter J. DavisVADM--28 February 1996 – 1 January 1997
Luther F. SchrieferRADM--1 January 1997 – 1 February 1997
Andrew GranuzzoRADM--1 February 1997 – 24 March 2000
James I. MaslowskiRADM--24 March 2000 – 20 December 2000
Arthur K. CebrowskiVADM--20 December 2000 – 16 August 2001
Robert M. NutwellRADM--16 August 2001 – 26 September 2001
Michael D. HaskinsVADM--26 September 2001 – 1 January 2003
Charles W. Moore, Jr.VADM--1 January 2003 – 1 October 2004
Gregory G. JohnsonADM--1 October 2004 – 29 November 2004
Robert MagnusGen (USMC)--29 November 2004 – 17 July 2008
James F. AmosGen (USMC)--17 July 2008 – 17 October 2014
William E. GortneyADM--18 October 2014 – 28 February 2017
Scott SwiftADM--1 March 2017 - Current
(retired on May 17, 2018)

  * 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 World War II.

References

This article includes public domain information collected from the Naval Historical Center.

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