Group Captain Colin Falkland Gray was from Christchurch, New Zealand, and was one of twin brothers. Both came to England in December 1938 and joined the RAF. Ken passed out first in October 1938 and was flying operationally in heavy bombers from the outbreak of war. He was awarded the DFC in December 1939 and subsequently was killed in a flying accident on 1st May, 1940.

Colin got his wings in January 1939, and moved to No 54 Squadron on 20th November 1939 to fly the Spitfire I on fighter sweeps over France.
His first taste of combat came on 24th May 1940, when his section intercepted a formation of 50+ Heinkel bombers escorted by Bf 109s, inland from Calais.

His score rose quickly twice getting two kills in a day and, on the 18th of August 1940 he destroyed four Me 110's.

On 13th July, 1940, he shot down a Bf 109 near Calais after a long chase at sea level. Over the next seven weeks he claimed 14 enemy aircraft destroyed, shared another and probably destroyed or damaged a further 14. He was awarded the DFC in mid-August. In early September 54 Squadron flew north for a rest. Many of its operational pilots were posted to other units and those who remained trained new pilots.
He went briefly to 43 Squadron but returned to 54 in January 1941 to replace Alan Deere as a flight commander when the latter was posted away. The unit returned south in late February and he remained until mid-June, 1941 before being posted to No.1 Squadron as a flight commander. On the 16th he shared in the destruction of an He 59 floatplane and on August 22 shot down a Bf 109.

Colin Gray was awarded a Bar to his DFC on 20th September, being by then credited with 17 confirmed victories.
He took command of 616 Squadron in late August 1941 and led it until late February 1942, when he was posted to staff duties. After several short flying appointments in late 1942 he was posted to North Africa in late December to take command of 81 Squadron, the first unit to fly Spitfire IXs in the Middle East. He quickly claimed more victories. When the North African campaign ended on May 13, 1943 he was awarded the DSO, having destroyed a further five enemy aircraft and probably destroyed or damaged four others. Promoted to Wing Commander, Colin was appointed to lead 322 Wing, moving to Malta to prepare for the invasion of Sicily.

On June 14, 1943 he shot down a Bf 109, on the 17th a Macchi 202 and on 10th July, invasion day, he shot down a Bf 109 in flames during a patrol over the beaches. Following the Army the Wing moved to Lentini East airfield on Sicily on the 19th. Six days later Gray led the Wing on a sweep of the Milazzo area, on Sicily’s north-east coast, where it was reported that German transports would be landing supplies on the beach at Cap Milazzo. The 33 Spitfires arrived as the Ju 52s were circling to land. Five escorting enemy fighters were destroyed in the action and Gray claimed two of the 21 transports shot down. They were to be his final victories and he left 322 Wing in early September to return to Britain. He was awarded a second Bar to the DFC and was credited with 27 enemy aircraft destroyed, one shared and a further 22 probably destroyed or damaged.

Once back in England Colin held two successive commands in training units before, in late July 1944, being appointed Wing Commander Flying of the Detling Wing to organise operations in support of the Army in Europe and sorties against the V-1 flying bombs

Colin retired from the RAF in March 1961 as a Group Captain and returned to live in New Zealand.

Group Captain Colin Gray died in Waikanae on the 1st August, 1995.

Colin once reflected on the performance of the Spitfire: "The problem of manoeuvrability was of prime importance in enabling one to turn inside the enemy, certainly in fighter versus fighter combats, and thus to get a shot in when on attack, or avoid being shot down when on the defensive - and here the British aircraft had a decided advantage in my experience."

Colin also recalled the first time he used emergency power:
"On 25th May 1940, whillst escorting Fairey Swordfish on a mission to dive-bomb Gravelines, I was engaged in a melee with Me 110s and 109s. After destroying a Me 109 E, and as I watched the pilot bale out (something we were told never to do), my Spitfire was hit by several cannon shells, severing the elevator trimmers, the port aileron (removing the pilot head), knocking out the hydraulics and the air pressure system, forcing me to break off combat. By this time, as usual, there was not a soul in sight, and I decided the best course of action was to set off for home as speedily as possible. I pressed the emergency boost tit, which poured on the fuel, but was only for use in dire emergency as it could overstress the engine. I considered this was justifiable under the circumstances, since I was still inside France and could not see anyone coming to my assistance." Colin landed at Hornchurch, and the undercarriage came down with the aid of the emergency CO2 bottle, but the loss of air pressure meant no flaps or breaks, and with the pilot head shot away, no airsped indicator. He made it on the second attempt.

Colin also related a harrowing incident that occurred on 31st August when Hornchurch was bombed, the order given "54 Squadron, take off, take off, for Christ's sake take off", followed by section leaders ordering the Pilots to: "...press their emergency boost tits (giving double take off power)"