My grandfather USN CDR Ray Boyd was born in Pocahontas Iowa and graduated Naval Academy class of '42, and went straight into WWII after graduating early due to Pearl Harbor.
I know little of his wartime service, but I know he served on the USS Saratoga and FDR and with various squadrons - he got his wings after the war.
In the 1950's he entertained but turned down advanced engineering positions from aircraft manufacturers and contributed design work with Grumman and Chance Vought on various craft.
He stayed in the Navy and went on to be a Commander and VX-3 squadron F8U-1 Crusader test pilot on the carrier USS FDR.
He was killed when his F8U-1 Crusader lost power after the cat- he did not eject. Sadly both he and the helicopter winchman, Abraham Spector, ADR3, drowned attempting to pull him from from the aircraft and his flight harness. Spector was posthumously awarded the U.S. Navy and Marine Corps Medal for bravery.
I have been in contact with my grandfathers' plane captain who was present that day but assigned to a different plane on that particular day. He stated that CDR Boyd was very well liked among the men and treated everyone with kindness and respect and that it was a sad day on the "Big Stick.
I know little of his wartime service, but I know he served on the USS Saratoga and FDR and with various squadrons - he got his wings after the war.
In the 1950's he entertained but turned down advanced engineering positions from aircraft manufacturers and contributed design work with Grumman and Chance Vought on various craft.
He stayed in the Navy and went on to be a Commander and VX-3 squadron F8U-1 Crusader test pilot on the carrier USS FDR.
He was killed when his F8U-1 Crusader lost power after the cat- he did not eject. Sadly both he and the helicopter winchman, Abraham Spector, ADR3, drowned attempting to pull him from from the aircraft and his flight harness. Spector was posthumously awarded the U.S. Navy and Marine Corps Medal for bravery.
I have been in contact with my grandfathers' plane captain who was present that day but assigned to a different plane on that particular day. He stated that CDR Boyd was very well liked among the men and treated everyone with kindness and respect and that it was a sad day on the "Big Stick.
My grandfather USN CDR Ray Boyd was born in Pocahontas Iowa and graduated Naval Academy class of '42, and went straight into WWII after graduating early due to Pearl Harbor.
I know little of his wartime service, but I know he served on the USS Saratoga and FDR and with various squadrons - he got his wings after the war.
In the 1950's he entertained but turned down advanced engineering positions from aircraft manufacturers and contributed design work with Grumman and Chance Vought on various craft.
He stayed in the Navy and went on to be a Commander and VX-3 squadron F8U-1 Crusader test pilot on the carrier USS FDR.
He was killed when his F8U-1 Crusader lost power after the cat- he did not eject. Sadly both he and the helicopter winchman, Abraham Spector, ADR3, drowned attempting to pull him from from the aircraft and his flight harness. Spector was posthumously awarded the U.S. Navy and Marine Corps Medal for bravery.
I have been in contact with my grandfathers' plane captain who was present that day but assigned to a different plane on that particular day. He stated that CDR Boyd was very well liked among the men and treated everyone with kindness and respect and that it was a sad day on the "Big Stick.
I know little of his wartime service, but I know he served on the USS Saratoga and FDR and with various squadrons - he got his wings after the war.
In the 1950's he entertained but turned down advanced engineering positions from aircraft manufacturers and contributed design work with Grumman and Chance Vought on various craft.
He stayed in the Navy and went on to be a Commander and VX-3 squadron F8U-1 Crusader test pilot on the carrier USS FDR.
He was killed when his F8U-1 Crusader lost power after the cat- he did not eject. Sadly both he and the helicopter winchman, Abraham Spector, ADR3, drowned attempting to pull him from from the aircraft and his flight harness. Spector was posthumously awarded the U.S. Navy and Marine Corps Medal for bravery.
I have been in contact with my grandfathers' plane captain who was present that day but assigned to a different plane on that particular day. He stated that CDR Boyd was very well liked among the men and treated everyone with kindness and respect and that it was a sad day on the "Big Stick.
Bio by: Stefan Reuther
Gravesite Details
Interment date 4-10-1957. Commander US Navy. Information extracted from the National Cemetery Administration's National Gravesite Locator. http://www.cem.va.gov/
Family Members
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