Alexander Gray (RAF officer)
Alexander Gray | |
---|---|
Born | 8 September 1896 |
Died | 16 May 1980 | (aged 83)
Allegiance | United Kingdom |
Service/ | British Army (1914–18) Royal Air Force (1918–49) |
Years of service | 1914–49 |
Rank | Air Vice Marshal |
Commands held | AHQ Iraq (1947–49) No. 224 Group (1943–44) (1942–43) RAF Manston (1939–40) No. 7 Squadron (1934–35) No. 12 Squadron (1923–26) No. 55 Squadron (1917–18) |
Battles/wars | First World War Second World War |
Awards | Companion of the Order of the Bath Military Cross Mentioned in Despatches (2) Croix de guerre (France) Distinguished Flying Cross (United States) |
Air Vice Marshal Alexander Gray, CB, MC (8 September 1896 – 16 May 1980) was a senior Royal Air Force leader during the Second World War.
RAF career[]
Gray was commissioned into the 7th Battalion of the Princess Louise's (Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders) in 1915 having briefly served as a private soldier in the Highland Light Infantry in the early days of the First World War.[1] He was appointed Officer Commanding No. 55 Squadron in December 1917.[1] He went on to command No. 12 Squadron from 1923 and No. 7 Squadron from 1934 before becoming Deputy Director of Training at the Air Ministry in 1936.[1]
During the Second World War he was Station Commander at RAF Manston becoming a group captain at Headquarters 9 (Fighter) Group in 1940.[1] He continued his war service as Air Officer Commanding from 1942, Air Officer Commanding No. 224 Group from 1943 and Air Commander at Eastern Air Command from 1944.[1] From February 1945 he was Director of Training at the Air Ministry.[1] He was awarded the United States Distinguished Flying Cross for his service in the Second World War.[2]
After the war he served as Air Officer Commanding AHQ Iraq before retiring in 1949.[1]
References[]
- ^ a b c d e f g Air of Authority – A History of RAF Organisation Air Vice Marshal A Gray
- ^ "No. 36566". The London Gazette (Supplement). 16 June 1944. p. 2876.
- Royal Air Force air marshals
- Royal Air Force personnel of World War II
- 1896 births
- 1980 deaths
- Companions of the Order of the Bath
- Recipients of the Military Cross
- Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders officers
- Royal Flying Corps officers
- British Army personnel of World War I
- Recipients of the Distinguished Flying Cross (United States)
- Recipients of the Croix de Guerre 1914–1918 (France)
- Royal Air Force personnel stubs