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Auction: 21003 - Orders, Decorations and Medals
Lot: 552

A very fine 1950 A.F.C. group of six awarded to Wing Commander D. Gray, Royal Air Force, who flew a plethora of Ops during the Berlin Airlift (Op Plainfare) and latterly forged a highly successful career with The King & Queen's Flights, his Log Books being plastered with Royal, Political and Military figures of the era

Air Force Cross, G.VI.R., the reverse officially dated '1950'; Defence and War Medals 1939-45; General Service 1918-62, 1 clasp, Cyprus (Sqn. Ldr. D. Gray. R.A.F.); General Service 1962-2007, 1 clasp, Borneo (Wg. Cdr. D. Gray. R.A.F.); Coronation 1953, mounted as worn, good very fine (6)

A.F.C London Gazette 2 January 1950.

Donald Gray was born on 22 December 1923 and enlisted in the Royal Air Force on 9 March 1942. His Log Books begin in early 1944, being commissioned in the General Duties Branch on 29 March 1944, having been a Leading Aircrewman. He underwent training at 41 Air School, Collondale, South Africa, 77 O.T.U., Qastina, Palestine, 26 O.T.U., Little Horwood, Buckinghamshire, 1668 Lancaster Conversion Unit at Bottesford and 1332 Transport Heavy Conversion Unit at Dishforth.

By the time of the Berlin Airlift, Gray had clocked up some 248hrs 25mins on his Log Book and joined Operation Plainfare at Wunstorf in August 1948. He flew into Gatow on no less than 38 Ops from 13 August-23 September 1948, a fine record in suppling Berlin indeed.

Joining No. 241 O.C.U. back at Dishforth, Gray was heavily engaged in the summer of 1949 in the celebration flights for the commemoration events for the end of the Second World War, taking part in the two Battle of Britain Flypast rehearsals on 10 & 13 September, before the main event, footage of which was captured by British Pathe (https://www.britishpathe.com/video/britain-remembers-the-few, refers). Gray flew in Hastings TG602 as 1st Navigator to Flight Lieutenant Davies. He also flew as 1st Navigator for Wing Commander Osborn for the 'RAF at Home' Formation Flight on 17 September 1949. Joining No. 511 Squadron in October 1949, he flew on 'Special' Flights to Buckeberg and Hamburg on 22 & 23 December 1949.

Following the award of the A.F.C., Gray had a brief spell with No. 50 Squadron in January 1950, before joining The King's Flight at Benson on 14 February 1950. His first flight was that same date, transporting Lt. Parker R.N., a close friend of The Duke of Edinburgh, to Le Var. A plethora of 'Special' and 'VIP' duties followed, flying a young Princess Elizabeth back from Nice on 10 May 1950. On their outward journey they had flown Air Commodore Fielden to Luqa. In July that year he flew HM The Queen and regularly flew the Duke and Duchess of Gloucester, besides counting HRH The Princess Margaret (with Group Captain Peter Townsend in December 1950), HRH The Duke of Edinburgh (with Lt. Parker in close order on 26 August 1950) also being accounted for on his Log Books. After the passing of King George VI, Gray first flew with the newly reigning Queen Elizabeth II in June 1952. He also took Winston Churchill from Edzell to Biggin Hill return on 3 October 1952. He flew during the Cyprus (Medal & clasp) operations and latterly with No. 215 Squadron in Borneo (Medal & clasp). Promoted Wing Commander on 1 July 1962, Gray retired on 5 May 1971; sold together with his Log Books, covering the dates 22 March 1944-24 November 1967, covering 4086hrs 10mins in his career, finely bound in black leather, the cover tooled in gilt and copied research.

For his miniature dress Medals, please see Lot 613.

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Sold for
£5,200

Starting price
£1600