The Gray Eagle Award is presented to the

Naval Aviator Naval aviation is the application of military air power by navies, whether from warships that embark aircraft, or land bases. Naval aviation is typically projected to a position nearer the target by way of an aircraft carrier. Carrier-based a ...

on continuous active duty in

U.S. Navy The United States Navy (USN) is the maritime service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the eight uniformed services of the United States. It is the largest and most powerful navy in the world, with the estimated tonnage o ...

Marine Corps Marines, or naval infantry, are typically a military force trained to operate in littoral zones in support of naval operations. Historically, tasks undertaken by marines have included helping maintain discipline and order aboard the ship (refle ...

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 A naval flight officer (NFO) is a commissioned officer in the United States Navy or United States Marine Corps who specializes in airborne weapons and sensor systems. NFOs are not pilots (naval aviators), but they may perform many "co-pilot" or ...

on continuous active duty in the U.S Navy or Marine Corps who has held that designation for the longest period of time. 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 The United States Coast Guard (USCG) is the maritime security, search and rescue, and law enforcement service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the country's eight uniformed services. The service is a maritime, military, mult ...

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 Charles Randall Brown (23 December 1899 – 8 December 1983) was a United States Navy four-star admiral. Brown was appointed to the United States Naval Academy in 1917, graduating in 1921. He was assigned to in July and then transferred ...

, USN, wrote to the Deputy Chief of Naval Operations (Air), Vice Admiral

Robert B. Pirie Robert Burns Pirie (18 April 1905 – 9 January 1990) was a vice admiral in the United States Navy. He was Deputy Chief of Naval Operations for air when he retired in 1962. Biography A native of Wymore, Nebraska, he was a 1926 graduate of t ...

, 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 Ling-Temco-Vought (LTV) was a large American conglomerate which existed from 1961 to 2000. At its peak, it was involved in aerospace, airlines, electronics, steel manufacturing, sporting goods, meat packing, car rentals, and pharmaceuticals, am ...

) 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 The National Naval Aviation Museum, formerly known as the National Museum of Naval Aviation and the Naval Aviation Museum, is a military and aerospace museum located at Naval Air Station Pensacola, Florida. Founded in 1962 and moved to its curr ...

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

{, class="wikitable" , - style="background:#efefef;" !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 George Dominic Murray (July 6, 1889 – June 18, 1956) was an admiral in the United States Navy and an early naval aviator. Biography Murray was born in Boston, Massachusetts, attended the U.S. Naval Academy, graduating in 1911 and becomin ...

, , 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 Alfred Melville Pride (September 10, 1897 – December 24, 1988) was a United States Navy admiral and pioneer naval aviator, who distinguished himself during World War II as an aircraft carrier commander. He served during the late 1940s as Chief ...

, , 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 , - ,

*, , 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 Richard C. Mangrum (October 27, 1906 – September 28, 1985) was a United States Marine Corps lieutenant general who served as Assistant Commandant of the Marine Corps from 1965 to 1967. Mangrum was a Marine Corps aviator who was awarded the Na ...

, , 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 Admiral (United States), Admiral Charles Donald Griffin (January 12, 1906 – June 26, 1996) was a List of United States Navy four-star admirals, four-star admiral in the United States Navy who served as commander in chief of United States Naval Fo ...

, , 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 Maurice Franklin Weisner (November 20, 1917October 15, 2006) was a four-star admiral of the United States Navy who served as Vice Chief of Naval Operations from 1972 to 1973; commander in chief, United States Pacific Fleet from 1973 to 1976; and ...

, , 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, , -, , 1 September 1945, , 26 June 1981 – 17 February 1987 , - ,

Cecil J. Kempf Cecil Joseph Kempf (November 20, 1927 – February 17, 2017) was a vice admiral in the United States Navy. He was Chief of the United States Naval Reserve from November 1983 until May 1987. Kempf graduated from the United States Naval Academy in ...

, , VADM, , -, , Nov 1951, , 25 February 1987 – 6 June 1987 , - , James E. Service, , VADM, , -, , 9 April 1952, , 6 June 1987 – 21 August 1987 , - , Frank E. Petersen, Jr., , LtGen (USMC), , -, , Oct 1952, , 21 August 1987 – 15 June 1988 , - ,

Ronald J. Hays Ronald Jackson Hays (August 19, 1928 – January 11, 2021) was a United States Navy List of United States Navy four-star admirals, four star admiral who served as Vice Chief of Naval Operations from 1983 to 1985, and as Commander in Chief, United ...

, , ADM, , -, , -, , 15 June 1988 – 15 September 1988 , - , Robert F. Dunn, , VADM, , -, , -, , 15 September 1988 – 25 May 1989 , - ,

Huntington Hardisty Huntington Hardisty (February 3, 1929 – October 1, 2003) was a United States Navy four star admiral who served as Vice Chief of Naval Operations (VCNO) from 1987 to 1988; and Commander in Chief, United States Pacific Command (USCINCPAC) from 1988 ...

, , 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, , -, , Oct 1956, , 1 July 1993 – 19 November 1993 , - ,

Stanley R. Arthur Admiral Stanley Roger Arthur, USN (born September 27, 1935) was the Vice Chief of Naval Operations from 1992 to 1995, culminating more than 37 years as an officer in the United States Navy. Military career Admiral Arthur was born in Jackson, Ohio ...

, , ADM, , -, , -, , 19 November 1993 – 21 March 1995 , - , David R. Morris, , RADM, , -, , -, , 21 March 1995 – 28 February 1996 , - , Walter J. Davis, Jr., , VADM, , -, , Dec 1960, , 28 February 1996 – 1 January 1997 , - , Luther F. Schriefer, , RADM, , -, , Oct 1961, , 1 January 1997 – 1 February 1997 , - , Andrew A. Granuzzo, , RADM, , -, , Feb 1963, , 1 February 1997 – 24 March 2000 , - , James I. Maslowski, , RADM, , -, , -, , 24 March 2000 – 20 December 2000 , - ,

Arthur K. Cebrowski Vice admiral (United States), Vice Admiral (ret.) Arthur Karl Cebrowski (August 13, 1942 – November 12, 2005) was a United States Navy admiral. He also who served from October 2001 to January 2005 as Director of the Office of Force Transform ...

, , VADM, , -, , -, , 20 December 2000 – 16 August 2001 , - , Robert M. Nutwell, , RADM, , -, , -, , 16 August 2001 – 26 September 2001 , - ,

Michael D. Haskins Michael Donald Haskins (born 8 September 1942) is a retired vice admiral (United States), vice admiral in the United States Navy who was appointed Naval Inspector General in 2000. From 26 September 2001 until his retirement on 1 January 2003, he ...

, , VADM, , -, , Sept 1968, , 26 September 2001 – 1 January 2003 , - , Charles W. Moore, Jr., , VADM, , -, , -, , 1 January 2003 – 1 October 2004 , - ,

Gregory G. Johnson Admiral Gregory Gordon Johnson (born July 11, 1946) is a retired United States Navy admiral and former commander of United States Naval Forces Europe and Allied Forces Southern Europe. Naval career Johnson is from Westmanland, Maine. He attende ...

, , ADM, , -, , -, , 1 October 2004 – 29 November 2004 , - , Robert Magnus, , Gen (USMC), , -, , -, , 29 November 2004 – 17 July 2008 , - ,

James F. Amos James F. "Jim" Amos (born November 12, 1946) is a retired United States Marine Corps four-star general who served as the 35th Commandant of the Marine Corps. As a naval aviator, Amos commanded the 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing during the Iraq War i ...

, , Gen (USMC), , -, , -, , 17 July 2008 – 17 October 2014 , - , William E. Gortney, , ADM, , -, , -, , 18 October 2014 – 28 February 2017 , - , Scott Swift , , ADM, , -, , -, , 1 March 2017 – Current
(retired on 17 May 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 The public domain (PD) consists of all the creative work A creative work is a manifestation of creative effort including fine artwork (sculpture, paintings, drawing, sketching, performance art), dance, writing (literature), filmmaking, ...

information collected from the

Naval Historical Center The Naval History and Heritage Command, formerly the Naval Historical Center, is an Echelon II command responsible for the preservation, analysis, and dissemination of U.S. naval history and heritage located at the historic Washington Navy Yard. ...

. *Grossnick, Roy, et al
Appendix 32. "Gray Eagle Award." ''History of Naval Aviation 1910-1995''.
Washington, D.C.: Naval Historical Center, 1997.

Ancient Albatross AwardAdmiral Bill Gortney Receives Gray Eagle AwardUS Pacific Fleet Commander Soars as New Gray Eagle
United States naval aviation