Gray Stenborg

Gray Stenborg
Born	(1921-10-13)13 October 1921 Auckland, New Zealand
Died	24 September 1943(1943-09-24) (aged 21)
Buried	Marissel French National Cemetery, Beauvais, France
Allegiance	New Zealand
Service/branch	Royal New Zealand Air Force
Years of service	1940–1943 †
Rank	Flight Lieutenant
Unit	No. 91 Squadron No. 185 Squadron No. 111 Squadron
Battles/wars	Second World War Channel Front Battle of Malta
Awards	Distinguished Flying Cross

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 was credited with 14 confirmed victories, one shared destroyed, and three damaged.

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, and during his time there shot down four enemy 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 Europe in late August 1942. After a period of time as an instructor, he was posted to No. 91 Squadron. He was killed on 24 September 1943 during a mission escorting bombers to France.