Adrian Cecil RAY

Service Number: NZ4210071
RNZAF Trade: Navigator
Date of Enlistment: 22nd of August 1942
Rank Achieved: Flying Officer
Flying Hours: Unknown flying hours
Operational Sorties: Unknown Number of Ops

Date of Birth: 1st of March 1923, West Coast
Personal Details: Adrian was the only child of Robert Cecil Ray and Lena Marie Ray (nee Williams). He married Mona Christian Milne of Scotland, who Adrian met while he was stationed in that country, and together they had four children; Anthony Robert Ray (born 1948); Alison Williams Ray (born 1951, deceased); Alistair Howard Ray (born 1954) and Richard Niall 'Rick' Ray (born 1959).

At the time of his death Adrian and Mona were living in Auckland.

Service Details: Adrian joined the Air Force on the 22nd of August 1942, at RNZAF Station Masterton, as an Aircrafthand at the Aerodrome Defence Unit.

On the 12th of February 1943 he set sail aboard the Matsonia for Canada, and was attached to the Royal Canadian Air Force on the 26th of February to undergo training as a Navigator.

Adrian was commissioned from the rank of Flight Sergeant to Pilot Officer on the 1st of December 1944, and promoted to Flyng Officer on the 1st of June 1945.

He returned to New Zealand in December 1945, arriving onboard the troopship Mooltan on the 21st of December at Wellington.

Date of Death: 5th of May 1984, aged 61, in Auckland
Ashes Scattered: Purewa Cemetary, Auckland

Connection with Cambridge: Adrian's home town was apparently Cambridge, with him returning here after the war. However he went on to live later in Hamilton as a clerk. and then Atiamuri where he was a public servant, and then Karori as a company secretary.

Thanks To: Adrian's son Alistair Ray, and to Errol Martyn for information on this airman.

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