Gray, Group Captain Colin Falkland Biography 1991

GRAY, Group Captain Colin Falkland
DSO 1943, DFC 1940 and two bars
Retired RAF Officer, Director of Unilever NZ  Limited
Born Christchurch, 9 November 1914, son of Robert Leonard Gray and Margaret (née Langford); married Betty Lois (Dinnie) Cook, daughter of Clair Cook, 1945; two sons three daughters.
Education: Huntley School, Marton; Christ’s College, Christchurch, Wellesley College Wellington, Napier Boys High School, RAF Staff College (psc).
Business and farming, 1933-1939; joined RAF January 1939 (originally on 4 year short service commission); pilot throughout Second World War, Fighter Command and overseas including Dunkirk, Battle of Britain, North Africa, Malta, Sicily, Squadron Pilot to Wing Commander, Operations and Station Commander; served Numbers 54, 43, 1, 616, 64, 81 Squadrons, 1939-1943; 322 Wing (81, 152, 154, 232, 242 Squadrons), Detling Wing (118, 124,504 Squadrons), Lympne Wing (41, 130, 350, 610 Squadrons), 1943-1944; approximately 550 operational sorties (mostly Spitfires), 27 aircraft destroyed; permanent commission end of war; Adv, Accidents Prevention, Air Ministry, 1946; RAF Staff Coll 1946-1947; Staff Officer, Directorate of Air Foreign Liaison, 1947-1949; Liaison Officer, British Joint Services Mission, Washington DC, 1950-1952; Wing Commander, Admin, RAF Stradishall, 1952-1954; Station Commander, RAF Church Fenton (Meteor Squadrons), 1954-1956; Group Captain, Operations, Head Quarters Far East Air Force, 1956-1959; Deputy Director, Fighter Operations, Air Ministry, 1959-1961 (retired at own request); National Personnel Manager, Director, Unilever NZ Limited, LH, 1961-1979 (retired).  Committee Member, HV C of C and Industry, 1964-1973 (Pres 1971).
Publications: Spitfire Patrol, 1990.
Recreations: golf, fishing.
Address: 4 Hurworth Grove, Waikanae.