JOHN P GRAY APD 74
Ship Name and Designation History
This section lists the names and designations that the ship had during its lifetime. The list is in chronological order.
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Buckley Class Destroyer Escort / Charles Lawrence Class High-speed Transport
- USS JOHN P. GRAY APD-74
Commissioned 15 March 1945 - Decommissioned 29 April 1946
Struck from the Naval Register 1 March 1967
Sold 3 September 1968 for scrapping
Keel Laid 18 December 1943 as DE-673
Launched 18 March 1944
Redesignated (APD-74) 27 June 1944
Naval Covers
This section lists active links to the pages displaying covers associated with the ship. There should be a separate set of pages for each incarnation of the ship (ie, for each entry in the "Ship Name and Designation History" section). Covers should be presented in chronological order (or as best as can be determined).
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Postmarks
This section lists examples of the postmarks used by the ship. There should be a separate set of postmarks for each incarnation of the ship (ie, for each entry in the "Ship Name and Designation History" section). Within each set, the postmarks should be listed in order of their classification type. If more than one postmark has the same classification, then they should be further sorted by date of earliest known usage.
A postmark should not be included unless accompanied by a close-up image and/or an
image of a cover showing that postmark. Date ranges MUST be based ONLY ON COVERS IN
THE MUSEUM and are expected to change as more covers are added.
>>> If you have a better example for any of the postmarks, please feel free to replace the
existing example.
|
Postmark Type |
Postmark Date |
Thumbnail Link To Postmark Image |
Thumbnail Link To Cover Image |
|---|
|
Locy Type |
1946-01-31 |
 |
 |
Last Day of Postal Service
|
Locy Type |
1946-01-31 |
 |
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Last Day of Postal Service, cachet by Tazewell G. Nicholson
Other Information
USS JOHN P. GRAY earned the American Campaign Medal, the Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal, the World War II Victory Medal and the Navy Occupation Service Medal (w/ Asia clasp) during her Naval career.
NAMESAKE - Lt.(jg) John Porter Gray, USNR (22 December 1914 - 4 June 1942)
Gray was born in Kansas City, Mo., 22 December 1914, and enlisted in the Naval Reserve 12 October 1939. He was appointed Aviation Cadet in 1940 and underwent flight training. After commissioning, Gray served at several air stations, reporting to Torpedo Squadron 2 in October 1940. Later transferred for temporary duty to Torpedo Squadron 8 in Hornet, he took part in the pivotal Battle of Midway 4-6 June 1942. Gray and his companions gallantly attacked the Japanese ships without fighter cover and in the face of withering antiaircraft fire. Though all were shot down, they succeeded in diverting enemy air cover and preventing further launches, thus contributing mightily to America's victory in the battle. Lt. (j.g.) Gray was killed 4 June during the attack. He was awarded the Navy Cross posthumously for his heroism, and shared in the Presidential Unit Citation awarded to Torpedo Squadron Eight for the Battle of Midway. (DANFS)
The ships sponsor was Mrs. Roy C. Gray, mother of Lt. (j.g.) Gray.
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