1. Gray Stenborg is credited with having shot down fifteen aircraft.
17 Facts About Gray Stenborg
1. 2.
Gray Stenborg destroyed several aircraft during his time on Malta, returning to the United Kingdom in late August 1942.
3.
Gray Stenborg was killed on 24 September 1943 during a mission escorting bombers to France.
4.
Gray Stenborg was born in Auckland on 13 October 1921, the only son of Gunnar Stenborg, a Swedish emigrant to New Zealand, and his wife Ruby.
5.
The family lived in the Auckland suburb of Parnell and Gray Stenborg was educated at King's College, where he played in the school's first XI cricket team.
6.
In July 1940, Gray Stenborg joined the Royal New Zealand Air Force and underwent initial training at Whenuapai as an aircrafthand on Blackburn Baffin and Vickers Vildebeest aircraft.
7.
Gray Stenborg only flew on three operations before being transferred to No 111 Squadron in January 1942.
8.
Pilot Officer Gray Stenborg has displayed great determination and keenness to engage the enemy.
9.
Pilot Officer Gray Stenborg attacked the enemy fighters, destroying two of them, and dispersed the remainder, thus enabling other Royal Air Force fighters to attack the bombers.
10.
One of the pilots in his flight destroyed two Bf 109s while Gray Stenborg shot down another.
11.
Gray Stenborg was eventually able to bale out, landing in the sea 8 kilometres from Malta and taking to his inflatable dinghy before being rescued.
12.
Gray Stenborg later admitted that the experience "shook him to his teeth".
13.
Gray Stenborg then went on to Flight Leaders School before being posted in May 1943 to No 91 Squadron.
14.
Gray Stenborg was buried nearby at the Marissel French National Cemetery, Oise.
15.
Gray Stenborg was credited with having destroyed fifteen aircraft, one of which was shared with other pilots, and damaging three others.
16.
Gray Stenborg is one of the 191 New Zealanders killed in the Second World War who are listed on the Takapuna War Memorial in Auckland.
17.
Gray Stenborg is listed on the nearby Howick and Pakuranga First World War Memorial, in a section for those killed in the Second World War.