William Benjamin GRAY

GRAY, William Benjamin

Service Number: 121851
Enlisted: 9 December 1942
Last Rank: Leading Aircraftman
Last Unit: No. 82 Squadron (RAAF)
Born: Prospect, South Australia, 11 June 1924
Home Town: Adelaide, South Australia
Schooling: Rostrevor College
Occupation: Accountant
Died: Natual causes (heart attack), Walkerville South Australia, 5 February 2011, aged 86 years
Cemetery: Enfield Memorial Park, South Australia
Cremation Only
Memorials: South Australian Garden of Remembrance
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World War 2 Service

9 Dec 1942: Enlisted Royal Australian Air Force, 121851, Adelaide, South Australia
9 Dec 1942: Enlisted Royal Australian Air Force, Leading Aircraftman, 121851
10 Dec 1942: Involvement Royal Australian Air Force, 121851, No. 82 Squadron (RAAF)

History

William Benjamin Gray was born in Adelaide on 11/6/1924. He was educated at Prospect and then at Rostrevor College. He obtained work at Islington Railway yards and when he tried to enlist, he was refused as he was in what was termed a protected industry. He continued to persevere and finally obtained his wish to enlist. He enlisted into the Royal Australian Airforce on 9/12/1942.
He was sent to Melbourne and Sydney to attend radio courses on 15/6/43
These courses qualified him to repair and rebuild aircraft radios.
He was the moved to Bankstown to join Number 82 Squadron (Kittyhawks)

27/4/1944 he moved to Townsville for seven months
2/11/1944 he was moved to Papua New Guinea Noemfoor Island for four months
3/3/1945 moved to Morotai Island in the Almaharas for three months
18/6/1945 moved to Labuan Borneo
5/11/1945 Flew from Borneo to Darwin in an RAAF Catalina Flying boat and then transferred to a Mitchell Bomber to fly from Darwin to Mallalla. He was taken by Army truck to Gepps Cross from where he walked home to Prospect just north of Regency Road.
He was discharged on the 30/1/1946.
He was married to Irene at this stage and they had five children, two boys and three girls. He studied accountancy and worked for a long time as an investigator for the Taxation department.
He restored a 1934 Chevrolet Sports Roadster and at the time of his death he had five children, eight grandchildren and eight great grand children.

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Biography contributed by Faithe Jones

Son of Alfred Whyndon GRAY and Elizabeth Jean nee SECKER, 258 Prospect Road, Prospect, SA