Gray, Kenneth Neil

Date of birth:: November 9th, 1914 (Christchurch, New Zealand)
Date of death:: May 1st, 1940
Buried on:: Commonwealth War Graves Dyce Old Churchyard
Grave: 1.
Service number:: 40342
Nationality:: New Zealander

Biography

Ken Gray, son of Robert Leonard and Margaret Gray and the twin brother of Colin Falkland Gray was killed in an aircraft accident.

Promotions:
April 27th, 1940: Flying Officer.

Career:
1937: Royal Air Force;
?: No. 102 Squadron.

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Distinguished Flying Cross (DFC)

Period:: Second World War (1939-1945)
Rank:: Pilot Officer
Awarded on:: January 1st, 1940

Citation:
Pilot Officer Gray and Pilot Officer Long were respectively Pilot and Navigator on a night reconnaissance flight over enemy territory during November, 1939. During the operations a snowstorm was encountered and the aircraft became badly iced-up, in addition to being subjected to anti-aircraft fire.
Nevertheless the reconnaissance flight was continued but it was not found possible to reach the objective as eventually weather conditions rendered the aircraft practically impossible to control, the upper surface of one wing and half that of the other wing having been stripped of fabric and one " flap " jammed down. The wireless apparatus also failed. The journey home involved a flight of 342 miles over the sea during very heavy rainstorms and it was mainly due to the skill, courage and splendid team work of Pilot Officer Gray and Pilot Officer Long that the aircraft and crew were brought safely back."

Awarded simultaneously to Frank Long.

Ceskoslovenský válecný kríž 1939

Period:: Second World War (1939-1945)
Rank:: Flying Officer
Awarded on:: January 12th, 1943

Sources

- The London Gazette Issue 34765 published on the 2 January 1940
- The London Gazette Issue 34898 published on the 16 July 1940
- Second Supplement to The London Gazette Issue 35858 published on the 8 January 1943
- Commonwealth War Graves Commission
- Auckland War Memorial Museum