Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

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.