Colin Falkland Gray
Encyclopedia
Group Captain
Colin Falkland Gray DSO
, DFC
and Two Bars
(9 November 1914 – 1 August 1995) was the top New Zealand fighter ace
of the Second World War. Gray was credited with 27 aerial kills, two shared destroyed, six probable kills, with a further four shared probables.
. Both joined the Royal Air Force
. Ken died in a flying accident on 1 May 1940.
in November 1939. After initial combats on 24 May (claiming two 'probable' victories) he downed his first confirmed enemy aircraft, a Messerschmitt Bf 109
, on 25 May 1940, while escorting a formation of Fairey Swordfish
to dive-bomb Gravelines
. His Spitfire
was badly damaged in the engagement, and damage to the port aileron forced the aircraft into a dive that was controlled only with great difficulty. Gray's aircraft had also lost its airspeed indicator and control of guns, flaps or brakes. However Gray managed to force land safely at his base in Hornchurch
.
On 13 July 1940 he shot down his second 109 (of JG 51) near Calais after a long chase at sea level. Another Bf 109 fighter was claimed on 24 July. Gray's victim was Leutnant Schauff of Adolf Galland
's III./Jagdgeschwader 26
. A pair of 109s were claimed on 12 August and 16 August. He was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross
(DFC) on 15 August 1940. Two Bf 110s were destroyed on 18 August 1940 in a series of air battles known as The Hardest Day
.
By early September Gray had claimed 14.5 kills, and his Squadron was sent North to rest and re-equip after being heavily engaged in the Battle of Britain
. Most of its surviving pilots were posted to other units with those remaining tasked with the operational training of new pilots. After a brief month stay with 43 Squadron
, he returned to his old Squadron as a flight commander in January 1941.
In June he was posted to No. 1 Squadron
as a flight commander, claiming a share in a Heinkel He 59
off Folkstone in June 1941.
He claimed a 109 as a 'guest' of No 41 Squadron on 22 August before a posting to No. 403 Squadron RCAF, but after two days, was sent to command No. 616 Squadron
. On 20 September 1941, with a total of 17 confirmed victories, he was awarded the bar to his DFC. In February 1942 he was posted as Squadron Leader, Tactics, to HQ 9 Group
.
Returning to operations in September 1942 he was attached briefly to No. 485 Squadron
for operational experience before taking over No. 64 Squadron
, flying the new Mark IX Spitfire.
In December 1942 he was sent as Tactics Officer to No. 333 Group in Algiers
and then took over No. 81 Squadron
in January 1943. Following operation over Tunisia
, in May 1943 Gray was awarded the Distinguished Service Order
. He increased his tally by five, including a 109 of JG 53 and a Macchi C.202 of 5 Stormo on 23 March.
He was promoted to Wing Commander
in May 1943 and took over No. 322 Wing for the Italian campaign
. In June and July 1943 he claimed five more kills, including two JG 53 109-Gs on 14 June and 10 July, a Macchi C.202 of 1 Stormo on 17 June and two Junkers Ju 52
transports of TG 1 on 25 July. He was awarded a second bar to the DFC in November.
In early September he returned to England with a final total of 27½ confirmed victories, six (and four shared) probables, and 12 damaged, in 511 operational sorties. He commanded 61 OCU at Rednal
and in July 1944 was appointed Wing Commander Flying of the Detling
Wing. In July he transferred to RAF Lympne
, overseeing the Griffon-engined Spitfires engaged in anti V-1 operations over the south coast.
. He retired as a Group Captain
in March 1961 and returned to New Zealand to work for Unilever
as personnel Director until 1979.
In 1945 he married Betty Cook, with whom he had two sons and two daughters. He also wrote Spitfire Patrol, an autobiography detailing his time in the RAF. Gray died in Waikanae
on 1 August 1995.
Group Captain
Group captain is a senior commissioned rank in the Royal Air Force and the air forces of many other Commonwealth countries. It ranks above wing commander and immediately below air commodore...
Colin Falkland Gray DSO
Distinguished Service Order
The Distinguished Service Order is a military decoration of the United Kingdom, and formerly of other parts of the British Commonwealth and Empire, awarded for meritorious or distinguished service by officers of the armed forces during wartime, typically in actual combat.Instituted on 6 September...
, DFC
Distinguished Flying Cross (United Kingdom)
The Distinguished Flying Cross is a military decoration awarded to personnel of the United Kingdom's Royal Air Force and other services, and formerly to officers of other Commonwealth countries, for "an act or acts of valour, courage or devotion to duty whilst flying in active operations against...
and Two Bars
Medal bar
A medal bar or medal clasp is a thin metal bar attached to the ribbon of a military decoration, civil decoration, or other medal. It is most commonly used to indicate the campaign or operation the recipient received the award for, and multiple bars on the same medal are used to indicate that the...
(9 November 1914 – 1 August 1995) was the top New Zealand fighter ace
Flying ace
A flying ace or fighter ace is a military aviator credited with shooting down several enemy aircraft during aerial combat. The actual number of aerial victories required to officially qualify as an "ace" has varied, but is usually considered to be five or more...
of the Second World War. Gray was credited with 27 aerial kills, two shared destroyed, six probable kills, with a further four shared probables.
Early life
He and his twin brother Ken were born in ChristchurchChristchurch
Christchurch is the largest city in the South Island of New Zealand, and the country's second-largest urban area after Auckland. It lies one third of the way down the South Island's east coast, just north of Banks Peninsula which itself, since 2006, lies within the formal limits of...
. Both joined the Royal Air Force
Royal Air Force
The Royal Air Force is the aerial warfare service branch of the British Armed Forces. Formed on 1 April 1918, it is the oldest independent air force in the world...
. Ken died in a flying accident on 1 May 1940.
RAF service in the Second World War
Gray qualified as a pilot in January 1939 and joined 54 SquadronNo. LIV Squadron RAF
No. 54 Squadron is a squadron of the Royal Air Force. It is a reserve squadron based at RAF Waddington, England...
in November 1939. After initial combats on 24 May (claiming two 'probable' victories) he downed his first confirmed enemy aircraft, a Messerschmitt Bf 109
Messerschmitt Bf 109
The Messerschmitt Bf 109, often called Me 109, was a German World War II fighter aircraft designed by Willy Messerschmitt and Robert Lusser during the early to mid 1930s...
, on 25 May 1940, while escorting a formation of Fairey Swordfish
Fairey Swordfish
The Fairey Swordfish was a torpedo bomber built by the Fairey Aviation Company and used by the Fleet Air Arm of the Royal Navy during the Second World War...
to dive-bomb Gravelines
Gravelines
Gravelines is a commune in the Nord department in northern France.It lies at the mouth of the river Aa 15 miles southwest of Dunkirk. There is a market in the town square on Saturdays. The "Arsenal" approached from the town square is home to an extensive and carefully displayed art collection....
. His Spitfire
Supermarine Spitfire
The Supermarine Spitfire is a British single-seat fighter aircraft that was used by the Royal Air Force and many other Allied countries throughout the Second World War. The Spitfire continued to be used as a front line fighter and in secondary roles into the 1950s...
was badly damaged in the engagement, and damage to the port aileron forced the aircraft into a dive that was controlled only with great difficulty. Gray's aircraft had also lost its airspeed indicator and control of guns, flaps or brakes. However Gray managed to force land safely at his base in Hornchurch
RAF Hornchurch
RAF Hornchurch was an airfield in the south of Hornchurch in what is now the London Borough of Havering. Known as Sutton's Farm during the First World War, it occupied of the farm of the same name and was situated east north-east of Charing Cross...
.
On 13 July 1940 he shot down his second 109 (of JG 51) near Calais after a long chase at sea level. Another Bf 109 fighter was claimed on 24 July. Gray's victim was Leutnant Schauff of Adolf Galland
Adolf Galland
Adolf "Dolfo" Joseph Ferdinand Galland was a German Luftwaffe General and flying ace who served throughout World War II in Europe. He flew 705 combat missions, and fought on the Western and the Defence of the Reich fronts...
's III./Jagdgeschwader 26
Jagdgeschwader 26
Jagdgeschwader 26 Schlageter was a Luftwaffe fighter-wing of World War II. It operated mainly in Western Europe against Great Britain, France the United States but also saw service against Russia. It was named after Albert Leo Schlageter, a World War I veteran and Freikorps member arrested and...
. A pair of 109s were claimed on 12 August and 16 August. He was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross
Distinguished Flying Cross (United Kingdom)
The Distinguished Flying Cross is a military decoration awarded to personnel of the United Kingdom's Royal Air Force and other services, and formerly to officers of other Commonwealth countries, for "an act or acts of valour, courage or devotion to duty whilst flying in active operations against...
(DFC) on 15 August 1940. Two Bf 110s were destroyed on 18 August 1940 in a series of air battles known as The Hardest Day
The Hardest Day
The Hardest Day was the name of a Second World War air battle fought during the Battle of Britain on 18 August 1940, by the Luftwaffe and British Royal Air Force . By June 1940 the Allies had been defeated in Western Europe and Scandinavia...
.
By early September Gray had claimed 14.5 kills, and his Squadron was sent North to rest and re-equip after being heavily engaged in the Battle of Britain
Battle of Britain
The Battle of Britain is the name given to the World War II air campaign waged by the German Air Force against the United Kingdom during the summer and autumn of 1940...
. Most of its surviving pilots were posted to other units with those remaining tasked with the operational training of new pilots. After a brief month stay with 43 Squadron
No. 43 Squadron RAF
No. 43 Squadron was a Royal Air Force aircraft squadron originally formed in 1916 as part of the Royal Flying Corps. It last operated the Panavia Tornado F3 from RAF Leuchars, Scotland in the air defence role until disbanded in July 2009.-In World War I:...
, he returned to his old Squadron as a flight commander in January 1941.
In June he was posted to No. 1 Squadron
No. 1 Squadron RAF
No. 1 Squadron is a squadron of the Royal Air Force. It operated the Harrier GR9 from RAF Cottesmore until 28 January 2011.The squadron motto is In omnibus princeps , appropriate for the RAF's oldest squadron and one that has been involved in almost every major British military operation since...
as a flight commander, claiming a share in a Heinkel He 59
Heinkel He 59
|-See also:-Bibliography:* Green, William.War Planes of the Second World War: Volume Six: Floatplanes. London: Macdonald, 1962.* Green, William. Warplanes of the Third Reich. New York: Doubleday, 1972. ISBN 0-385-05782-2....
off Folkstone in June 1941.
He claimed a 109 as a 'guest' of No 41 Squadron on 22 August before a posting to No. 403 Squadron RCAF, but after two days, was sent to command No. 616 Squadron
No. 616 Squadron RAF
No. 616 Squadron was a unit of the British Auxiliary Air Force and later the Royal Auxiliary Air Force between 1938 and 1957.-Formation:...
. On 20 September 1941, with a total of 17 confirmed victories, he was awarded the bar to his DFC. In February 1942 he was posted as Squadron Leader, Tactics, to HQ 9 Group
No. 9 Group RAF
-History:No. 9 Group RAF was first formed on 1 April 1918 in No. 2 Area. The next month it was transferred to South-Western Area and then disbanded on 15 May 1919....
.
Returning to operations in September 1942 he was attached briefly to No. 485 Squadron
No. 485 Squadron RNZAF
No. 485 Squadron was a Spitfire squadron of the Royal New Zealand Air Force during the Second World War. It was the first RNZAF squadron formed under Article XV of the Empire Air Training Scheme and served in Europe under the operational command of the Royal Air Force.-History:Manned by New Zealand...
for operational experience before taking over No. 64 Squadron
No. 64 Squadron RAF
No. 64 Squadron was a squadron of the Royal Air Force. It was first formed on 1 August 1916 as a squadron of the Royal Flying Corps. It was last disbanded on 31 January 1991 at RAF Leuchars.- 1916 to 1919 :...
, flying the new Mark IX Spitfire.
In December 1942 he was sent as Tactics Officer to No. 333 Group in Algiers
Algiers
' is the capital and largest city of Algeria. According to the 1998 census, the population of the city proper was 1,519,570 and that of the urban agglomeration was 2,135,630. In 2009, the population was about 3,500,000...
and then took over No. 81 Squadron
No. 81 Squadron RAF
No 81 Squadron was a squadron of the Royal Air Force. It flew Fighter aircraft during the Second World War, and reconnaissance aircraft in the Far East after the war, but was disbanded in 1970.-First World War:No...
in January 1943. Following operation over Tunisia
Tunisia
Tunisia , officially the Tunisian RepublicThe long name of Tunisia in other languages used in the country is: , is the northernmost country in Africa. It is a Maghreb country and is bordered by Algeria to the west, Libya to the southeast, and the Mediterranean Sea to the north and east. Its area...
, in May 1943 Gray was awarded the Distinguished Service Order
Distinguished Service Order
The Distinguished Service Order is a military decoration of the United Kingdom, and formerly of other parts of the British Commonwealth and Empire, awarded for meritorious or distinguished service by officers of the armed forces during wartime, typically in actual combat.Instituted on 6 September...
. He increased his tally by five, including a 109 of JG 53 and a Macchi C.202 of 5 Stormo on 23 March.
He was promoted to Wing Commander
Wing Commander (rank)
Wing commander is a commissioned rank in the Royal Air Force and the air forces of many other Commonwealth countries...
in May 1943 and took over No. 322 Wing for the Italian campaign
Italian Campaign (World War II)
The Italian Campaign of World War II was the name of Allied operations in and around Italy, from 1943 to the end of the war in Europe. Joint Allied Forces Headquarters AFHQ was operationally responsible for all Allied land forces in the Mediterranean theatre, and it planned and commanded the...
. In June and July 1943 he claimed five more kills, including two JG 53 109-Gs on 14 June and 10 July, a Macchi C.202 of 1 Stormo on 17 June and two Junkers Ju 52
Junkers Ju 52
The Junkers Ju 52 was a German transport aircraft manufactured from 1932 to 1945. It saw both civilian and military service during the 1930s and 1940s. In a civilian role, it flew with over 12 air carriers including Swissair and Deutsche Luft Hansa as an airliner and freight hauler...
transports of TG 1 on 25 July. He was awarded a second bar to the DFC in November.
In early September he returned to England with a final total of 27½ confirmed victories, six (and four shared) probables, and 12 damaged, in 511 operational sorties. He commanded 61 OCU at Rednal
Rednal
Rednal is a residential suburb on the south western edge of metropolitan Birmingham, West Midlands, England, 9 miles south west of Birmingham city centre and forming part of Longbridge parish and electoral ward....
and in July 1944 was appointed Wing Commander Flying of the Detling
Detling
Detling is a village and civil parish in the Borough of Maidstone in Kent, England. The parish is located on the slope of the North Downs, north east of Maidstone, and on the Pilgrims' Way....
Wing. In July he transferred to RAF Lympne
RAF Lympne
RAF Lympne was a Royal Air Force station used during the First and Second World Wars. It opened in 1916 by the Royal Flying Corps as an acceptance point for aircraft being delivered to, and returned from, France. It was later designated as a First Class Landing Ground...
, overseeing the Griffon-engined Spitfires engaged in anti V-1 operations over the south coast.
Post-war
After the war he continued in various command and staff posts, and was involved in the fighting in the Malayan EmergencyMalayan Emergency
The Malayan Emergency was a guerrilla war fought between Commonwealth armed forces and the Malayan National Liberation Army , the military arm of the Malayan Communist Party, from 1948 to 1960....
. He retired as a Group Captain
Group Captain
Group captain is a senior commissioned rank in the Royal Air Force and the air forces of many other Commonwealth countries. It ranks above wing commander and immediately below air commodore...
in March 1961 and returned to New Zealand to work for Unilever
Unilever
Unilever is a British-Dutch multinational corporation that owns many of the world's consumer product brands in foods, beverages, cleaning agents and personal care products....
as personnel Director until 1979.
In 1945 he married Betty Cook, with whom he had two sons and two daughters. He also wrote Spitfire Patrol, an autobiography detailing his time in the RAF. Gray died in Waikanae
Waikanae
Waikanae is a small town on New Zealand's Kapiti Coast. The name is a Māori word meaning "The waters of the yellow eyed mullet". Another settlement called Waikanae Beach exists near Gisborne on the east coast of the North Island of New Zealand....
on 1 August 1995.