author
Jim Ray
1893–1955
Best known for vivid aviation writing and artwork, this mid-20th-century American author brought the history of flight to life for general readers. His books and sketches reflect both a pilot’s interest in aircraft and an illustrator’s eye for detail.
1 Audiobook
The Story of American Aviation
by Jim Ray
About the author
Jim Ray, also identified in library and archival records as James Ralph Ray, was an American illustrator, aviator, and author active in the 1940s. He is best known for The Story of American Aviation, a history of flight in the United States that he also illustrated himself.
Archival material at the University of Texas at Dallas describes him as a well-known illustrator and aviator whose work appeared for companies such as Kelloggs as well as in books and magazines. That mix of technical curiosity and visual storytelling helps explain why his aviation books feel both informative and highly visual.
His surviving work suggests a career centered on making aviation exciting and accessible to a broad audience. In addition to The Story of American Aviation, he was connected with Jim Ray's Aviation Sketchbook, which further shows his talent for combining art, popular history, and enthusiasm for airplanes.