Operation: Ramrod
Date: 24th September 1943 (Friday)
Unit: No. 91 Squadron (11 Group)
Type: Spitfire F.XII
Serial: MB805
Code: DL-?
Base: RAF Westhampnett, Sussex
Location: Between Crillon and Villers-Sur-Bonnières, France
Pilot: Fl/Lt. Gray Stenborg DFC. NZ/402494 RNZAF Age 21. Killed
REASON FOR LOSS:
This New Zealand air ace with a total of 14 and 1 shared enemy aircraft destroyed with a further 3 classed as damaged was a great loss. He had previously served with 111, 185 and 485 Squadrons and had an earlier lucky escape when he was shot down off Delimara Point in Malta. He was rescued by an Air Sear Rescue launch.
On this operation they were escorting bombers to Beauvais in France. His aircraft ws seen to be streaming Glycol after combat with a large number of enemy aircraft close to the target area. It has been established that he crashed at 16:00 hrs between Crillon and Villers-Sur-Bonnières, France.
Burial details:
Fl/Lt. Gray Stenborg DFC. Marissel French National Cemetery. Grav 205. Born on the 13th October 1921, the son of Gunnar Stenborg and of Ruby Amelia Stenborg (née Moore), of Howick, Auckland, New Zealand. A total of 735 flying hours logged and having completed some 188 operational sorties.
Researched and dedicated to the relatives of this pilot with thanks to the research by Errol Martyn and his publications: “For Your Tomorrow Vols. 1-3”, Auckland War Memorial Museum, Weekly News of New Zealand, other sources as quoted below:
