Alexander Gray (RAF officer)

Alexander Gray
Born	8 September 1896
Died	16 May 1980 (aged 83)
Service/branch	British Army  Royal Air Force
Years of service	1914–1949
Rank	Air Vice-Marshal
Commands held	No. 55 Squadron No. 12 Squadron No. 7 Squadron RAF Manston No. 223 (Composite) Group No. 224 Group AHQ Iraq
Battles/wars	World War I World War II
Awards	Companion of the Order of the Bath Military Cross Croix de Guerre with Palms Distinguished Flying Cross (United States)

Air Vice Marshal Alexander Gray CB, MC, RAF (8 September 1896 – 16 May 1980) was a senior Royal Air Force leader during World War II.

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 World War I.^[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 No. 223 (Composite) Group 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 World War II.^[2]

After the War he served as Air Officer Commanding AHQ Iraq before retiring in 1949.^[1]

References

1. Air of Authority - A History of RAF Organisation Air Vice Marshal A Gray
2. The London Gazette: (Supplement) no. 36566. p. 2876. 16 June 1944. Retrieved 2011-03-20.