Gray Stenborg

Gray Stenborg DFC (13 October 1921 – 24 September 1943) was a New Zealand flying ace of the Royal New Zealand Air Force (RNZAF) during the Second World War. He is credited with having shot down fifteen aircraft.

Born in Auckland, Stenborg joined the RNZAF in July 1940. After receiving flight training in New Zealand and Canada, he was sent to England to serve with the Royal Air Force. His first operational posting was to No. 485 Squadron and he later flew with No. 111 Squadron. During his time with the latter, he destroyed four German aircraft. In June 1942, he was sent to Malta as a reinforcement pilot, flying a Supermarine Spitfire off the flight deck of HMS Eagle to the island where he joined No. 185 Squadron. He destroyed several aircraft during his time on Malta, returning to the United Kingdom in late August 1942. After a period of time as an instructor, he was posted to No. 91 Squadron. Stenborg was killed on 24 September 1943 during a mission escorting bombers to France.