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Sergeant THOMAS GRAY

Service Number: 563627
Regiment & Unit/Ship

Royal Air Force

12 Sqdn.

Date of Death

Died 12 May 1940

Age 26 years old

Buried or commemorated at

HEVERLEE WAR CEMETERY

Coll. grave 6. F. 14-16.

Belgium

Commonwealth War Graves Commission - Headstone Placeholder
  • Country of Service United Kingdom
  • Awards Victoria Cross
  • Additional Info Son of Ernest Arthur and Susannah Mary Gray, of Odd Down, Bath, Somerset.
  • Personal Inscription IN LOVING MEMORY
  • Additional Citation note

    The citation in "The London Gazette," for 11th June, 1940, gives the following details : Flying Officer Garland was the pilot and Sergeant Gray the observer of the leading machine of a formation of five aircraft that were ordered to destroy at all costs a bridge over the Albert Canal which had not been demolished by the land forces and was allowing the Germans to advance into Belgium. In spite of very heavy defence of the area surrounding the bridge, the formation made a successful dive-bombing attack from the lowest practicable altitude, after releasing their bombs they were attacked by a large number of enemy fighters. Only one aircraft of the five returned to its base. Much of the success of the operation must be attributed to the formation leader, Flying Officer Garland, and to the coolness and resource of Sergeant Gray, who navigated the leading aircraft under most difficult conditions in such a manner that the whole formation, although it subsequently suffered heavy losses, was able successfully to attack the target.

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Buried or commemorated at