Douglas (Doug) Gray

Douglas Gray, (1896-1969) was a First World War pilot who was trained in the Royal Naval Air Service, Britain. He was allocated to the pilot pool and made over 30 crossings of the English channel during the period of 1916-1920

Captain Douglas Gray joined the Canterbury Aviation Company after returning from England in 1920.

Douglas flew for the Canterbury Aviation Company on several cross-country flights in 1920 and 1921, including cross-channel flights and a Christchurch to Wellington flight on September 12 1921, piloting an Avro 110 (Lerhone engine) on her maiden trip.

It was during his time at Wigram, in Christchurch, he met another aviator, Kenneth Hall.

Douglas married Ken's sister Emma on 31 Jan 1923, and later the couple took up a high country run at Pongaroa, in the Northern Wairarapa. The property ‘Glenwai’ is still farmed today and is right at the end of Sugarloaf Rd - roughly halfway between Pongaroa and CastlePoint

Douglas and Emma had four children; Rory, Bryony, Tim and Ann. The children were homeschooled, but went onto boarding school for their secondary education.

Rory joined the RNZAF in 1943 and trained as a fighter pilot, attaining the rank of Sergeant. On 4th August 1945, Rory was undertaking practice attacks with another pilot, both flying Harvards. While making a diving pass, the wing tip of Rory's plane caught the tail of his opponent. The collision caused devastating damage to each plane and both young pilots, aged 20 were killed.

Douglas and Emma were understandably broken-hearted at the death of their oldest son. Emma's father, Wilfred had died in 1943 and by 1946, the family moved to "Gunyah," a homestead on a Hall family farm near Hororata.

Douglas was an active member of the community, a member of Federated Farmers, and a keen participant of lawn bowls and the Scottish passtime of curling on Lake Ida.

Douglas died unexpectedly of a heart attack, in his study chair, February 1969.

Captain Douglas Gray

Newspaper clippings about Capt Douglas Gray

Captain Douglas Gray (1896-1969) joined the Canterbury Aviation Company after returning from England in 1920, where he was trained as a pilot in the Royal Naval Air Service.

Douglas Gray flew for the Canterbury Aviation Company on several cross-country flights in 1920 and 1921, including cross-channel flights and a Christchurch to Wellington Flight on September 12 1921, piloting an Avro 110 (Lerhone engine) on her maiden trip.

http://www.peelingbackhistory.co.nz/the-canterbury-aviation-company...

https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/HNS19210912.2.51.2?que...

FLIGHT LIEUT GRAY.

Reassuring advice has been received by Mr Charles Gray as to .the condition of his son, Flight Lieut. Douglas Wankley[sic] Gray, who sustained injuries m an aeroplane accident a few days ago. A report from Dr. Alfred Williams, of Epsom, states : "Comfortable in Lincoln hospital. Simple fractures both legs above ankles ; small cuts on face. Writes very cheerfully. Progressing well." The following paragraph from an English newspaper received by the last mail refers to Lieut. Gray: "Some wonderful flying by a youthful naval airman over Harrow hill, which lias delighted and thrilled hundreds of people on several occasions, : shows more than anything else what our intrepid experts in the air can do, and the immense possibilities of the latest machines. The officer, who lives in Harrow, I believe, is one of England's j " greatest airmen, and his many- friends, not only in Harrow, but further away will wish him the best of luck and ,success in his special work."

POVERTY BAY HERALD, VOLUME XLIV, ISSUE 14271, 13 APRIL 1917

appears to be a snippet with no header - perhaps the rest of the story is elsewhere in this paper
Flying to Coalgate on Saturday, Captain .Douglas Gray left Christchurch at 10.20 am and landed in a paddock at "Kirkstyle” at 10.48 a.m., carrying two passengers—Miss Idris Studholme and Mr Douglas Deans. The afternoon was spent in passenger flights, and Captain Gray flew back to Christchurch yesterday morning, covering the distance in twenty minutes, with the help of a Nor’-westor.

Star, Star, Issue 16256, 25 October 1920

A SUCCESSFUL AEROPLANE FLIGHT.

HAWERA & NORMANBY STAR, VOLUME XLI, ISSUE 0, 12 SEPTEMBER 1921

A SUCCESSFUL AEROPLANE FLIGHT. BLENHEIM Sep. 12. Avro 110, fitted with a'Lerhone engine, on her maiden trip left Sockburn aerodrome at 7.27 o'clock this morning, and arrived at Blenheim aerodrome athlo.4o. She left for Wellington after half an hour's stay. The pilot is Captain Douglas Gray; the mechanic Mr J. E. Cruse: and the observer Mr H. J. Wilson. It was a good trip, and ideal weather conditions were experienced. The passage was uneventful, the average altitude being 5000 feet. The consumption of petrol was extremely low, only ten gallons being used. A stop was made at the Elms, Kaikoura, for breakfast and fuel supply.

CHRISTCHURCH TO WELLINGTON. HOROWHENUA CHRONICLE, 12 SEPTEMBER 1921

CHRISTCHURCH TO WELLINGTON. AEROPLANE TRIP TO-DAY. x (Per Press Association.) ~ j Blenheim, September 12. Avro 110 (Lerhone engine) on her maiden trip, left - the Sockbum* aerodrome at 7.27 this morning, and. arrived at Blenrieim aerodrome at f 0.45. She left for Wellington after half an hour’s stay. The pilpt Is Captain, Douglas Gray, the mechanic J. E. Cruse, and the observer H, J. Wilson. A good trip was made in ideal weather. The passage was uneventful at an average’’altitude of 5000 feet. The consumption of petrol was extremely low, only 10 gallons. A stop was made at the Elms, Kaikoura, for breakfast and fuel supply.

AVIATION IN N.Z.

STRATFORD EVENING POST, VOLUME XXXXIV, ISSUE 61, 12 SEPTEMBER 1921 AVIATION IN N.Z. SOCKBURN-WELLINCTOM TRIP Per Press Association Blenheim, September 12 Avro Na! 110 fitted with n Le Rhone engine, on her maiden trip, left Sockburn aerodrome at 7.27 this morning, arrived at Blenheim oerodonic at 10,15, and left for Wellington after half an hour's stay. The pilot is Captdin Douglas Gray: mechanic, J. B. Cruse, observer, 11. J. Wilson. They had a good trip* with ideal weather conditions, aal !lu> passage wm uneventful. The averago altitude was 5000 ft. The tonsumption of petrol was extremely low, being only ten gallons. A stop was made sit The Elms, Kaikoura, for breakfast and fuel supply.

CHRISTCHURCH TO WELLINGTON

EVENING POST, VOLUME CII, ISSUE 63, 12 SEPTEMBER 1921 https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/EP19210912.2.70.1?quer...

https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/AG19201231.2.11?query=...

AVIATOR'S VISIT.

ASHBURTON GUARDIAN, VOLUME XLI, ISSUE 9406, 31 DECEMBER 1920 AVIATOR'S VISIT. DISPLAY IN ASH BURTON. MACHINE DUE TO-DAY. "STUNT" FLIGHTS TO-MORROW. Captain Douglas Gray, • pilot and ; officer-in-charge of the Canterbury Aviation Company's Avro machine,' accompanied by Mr J. E. , Moore, mechanic, was expected to arrive at Ashburton about 4.30 this afternoon, on the first stage of the flight from Christchurch to Inyercargill. Captain, Gray brings with him as passengers MrA. F. Smith, of the firm of Messrs J.. Smith and Sons, Ashburton, now re-,-. siding on the Cashmere Hills, Christchurch, and Mr"F. Glanville, chemist, . of High Street, Christchurch. Captain. . Gray will remain in "Ashburton for • three days. ■ ■ ,"■■ To-morrow at 1 pirn., from the paddock opposite Miss J. Chalmers' residence, Beach Road, Captain Gray willy, give a display of stunt flying, in addition to taking up passengers for short "joy-rides" of from five to ten; minutes. This morning enquiries show-.-ed that considerable interest is being y taken locally in to-morrow's flights, ' and a number of flights are already', booked. Those who are anxious to fly; , during the Avro's visit are advised to rescrve their flights without delay. 1* Judging by the keen enthusiasm' shown locally at the time of the recent " visit of Captain E. ■> Dickson there will be large numbers, who were precluded then owing to/ heavy bookings, anxious "to try -their wings" in the Avro on this occasion of;' • its second visit to Ashburton, Th©' brevity of Captain Dickson' a ; visit, together with the difficulties he met with owing to the unsuitability of the first. ... landing site selected, resulted in the', disappointment of over a score.of Ash-, burtonians, who, however, were de-, • lighted with the aviator's thrilling. , stunts and fancy flying. Great crowds . ' gathered at the abattoir paddock on that occasion, while others viewed the proceedings from the. road. This -latter '. method of enjoying an afternoon's entertainment is economical, but hardly creditable to Ashburtonians, and it is - hoped that there will be no repetition of the practice on this occasion. ,

https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/TS19200821.2.57?query=...

FLYING AT RANGIORA

STAR, ISSUE 20031, 21 AUGUST 1920

AERIAL MAIL SERVICE.

ASHBURTON GUARDIAN, VOLUME XLI, ISSUE 9433, 2 FEBRUARY 1921

https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/AG19210202.2.11.1?quer...

AERIAL MAIL SERVICE. FINE FLYING CONDITIONS. The air mail to-day kept -well toschedule times, and, m fact, a little ia,^ advance of them on both the outward -and return journeys. Captain Dickson. piloted the_ aeroplane.' Flying conditions were almost ideal to-day, although the wind,, which was more noticeable at an altitude, had a tendency -to chop round between southeast and north-east. : The mails from Christchurch and Timaru were small, and that sent on from Ashburton to Tiimaru was also on - the light side. The Ashburton-Christr church mail this afternoon was,, however, fairly wefl maintained. Two passengers^ Messrs F.. Heather and — Jackson;, were taken aboard! the plane from Ashburton! for Christchurch this aiternooii. ■* ■ Although the southern air mail -was landed on time at Tim&ru yesterday the pilot (Captain; Douglas Gray) found a cylinder de&Sdt while at the southern town and telegraphed for a relief machine to carr^, the Trmaru mail; to Christchurch. ..Captain Crawford wastherefore dispatched on a second Avro>. and returned to Christchurch with; themail just, before 1 5 .o'clock. Captain Gray remained at Tiimaru with thefirst machine, on- -which 1 repairs tv3l be effected to-day. . . ,-. 1 Captain Crawford left* Christchurcb with the second'machine at 1.56" p.m. and arrived at Timaru at 3.5 p.m., making a noru-stop flight' of seventy minutes. He left'; Timaru at 3.25" with the mail,- 'landed at 'Ashburton at--3^.55v left again- 'at 14.20, and' arrived tfm<»»'bemg; 65 -Mr W. Park A,, was a/"passertgeir m- -the first aeroplane T but Captain^'Gi'a^Ford flew solo going and coming." "r'^ rfll ' \ 'The-mail-.that Captain "Gray to~k south consisted of 19 Tetters for Timam'aridx three for 'Aishburtoii. Thw ,ih'waird'iriairj i whibh- lireached' f she Christ- \ {e£urch Post CWEfice at 5.1^. J( f p.m., con- ' sisted of ,j'Sj lletters, two postcaras, anJ two express jelivea-y letters, from Asliburt'on, and 26 letters and three express letters fr

STAR, ISSUE 20046, 8 SEPTEMBER 1920

https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/TS19200908.2.16?query=...

CROSS-COUNTRY FLIGHT TO , WAIKARI. > Captain Douglas Gray, of the CanterR bUr y Aviation Company, made a rapid cross-country flight from Christchurch to Waikari yesterday in an Avro ma- , chine. He left the aerodrome at 11.23 3 \ l - m - Wltll Mr R. A. Turner and Mr H. Hosking as passengers. A landing was made at 12.15 in a paddock on Mr Turo' ner ’ s farm, “ Liinehurst,” some six j miles up the Waikari valley. After e }«®ch- Captain (jray motored into Waikan to select a landing ground for a I 1" v ‘ s *l to ti.e township, and he found a paddock fairly suitable for the ~ purpose. . ihe return trip to Christchurch was ;l started at 4.20 p.m., and the machine landed at Sockburn at 5.12 p.m.', the b out and home journeys occupying ext actly lifty-two minutes each. The inward passengers were Mrs Crewes and . Mr i*. A. Turner. The day was fine i a J?“ except for isolated patches - of clouds on the mountains, and the e visibility was good; The distance each . nay was about lifty-six miles. Captain Gray liberated two homing pigeons at , Waikari. .1

THREE HOURS TO WELLINGTON.

PRESS, VOLUME LVII, ISSUE 17249, 13 SEPTEMBER 1921 https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/CHP19210913.2.105?quer...

THREE HOURS TO WELLINGTON. CAPTAIN GRAY'S RIGHT. COOK STBAIT CEOSSEU IN 26 MINUTES. Yesterday morning Captain Douglas j Gray accomplished a flight in a new 1 Arro machine from the. Sockburn aero- ; drome to Hutt Park, Wellington. With Mr J. E. Cruse, mechanic and a passenger, ho left the Canterbury Aviation Company's aerodrome at 7.27 a.m. and set off for Wellington via Kaikoura and Blenheim. The Avro had undergone satisfactory teste at the aerodrome prior to being taken out on its first cross-coun-try flight. The trip was made with the object of undertaking passenger flights at Wellington. The honour of the first crossing of Cook Strait by aeroplane belongs to Captain Euan Dickson, manager of the Canterbury Aviation Company, who, with. Mr C. H. Hewlett, vice-chairman of the company. an 3 Mr J. E. Moore, mechanic, crossed over in a 110 h.p. Le Rhone Avro, a machine similar to the one flown yesterday by Captain Gray. This waa made at the time when the fate Captain Russell, of the Kolumarama Company, had just reached Wellington from Auckland by aeroplane. ({•REM ASSOCIATION TELEGRAM.) WELLINGTON, September 12. The Avro flying machine which reached Wellington this afternoon from Christchurch. is owned by the Canterbury Aviation Company. As it proceeded up the coast from Christchurch. the sun reflecting on the sea proved very "hard on the pilot's eyes. Passing over Waipara at 7.60 a.m., the machine went out seawardß and flew up the coast. Kaikoura (140 miles) was reached at 8.55 a.m. A landing was made there, and after the pilot and passengers had had morning tea, the machine resumed its flight at 9.48 a.m. It arrived at Blenheim (97 miles from Kaikoura) at 10.45 am., and left at 11.30 a.m., rising to a height of 9500 ft. to cross the strait. The actual time spent in crossing Cook Strait was 26 minutes, which is the fastest on record. After passing Cape Terawhiti, the Avro circled over Wellington for some minutes and then proceeded io Lower Hutt park, where a landing was made. The total distance of 270 miles was covered in three hours fifteen minutes actual flying time.

https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/ODT19210913.2.49?query...

AVIATION

OTAGO DAILY TIMES, ISSUE 18349, 13 SEPTEMBER 1921

AVIATION SOCKBURN TO WELLINGTON. A HIGHLY SATISFACTORY FLIGHT. (Pee United Phms Association.) WELLINGTON, September 12. An Avro flying machine, which reached Wellington this afternoon from Christchurch, is owned by the Canterbury Aviation Company. Ine machine left Sockburn aerodrome, and os it proceeded the sun reflecting on the sea proved very hard on the pilot’s eyes. Passmg over Waipara at 7.50 a-.m., the machine went out sea- wards, and flew up tho coast, and Kaikoura, (140 miles) was reached at 8.55 a.m. A landing was made there, and after the pilot and a passenger had-morning tea the machine resumed its flight at 9.48 a.m. It arrived at Blenheim (97 miles from Kaikoura) at 10.45 a.m., and left at 11.30 a.m., rising to a height of 9500 ft to cross the strait. The actual time spent in crossing Cook Strait, was 26 minutes—the fastest on record. After passing Capo Terawhiti, the Ayro circled over Wellington for some minutes, and then proceeded to tho Lower Hutt Park, where a landing was made. The total distance of 270 miles was covered in shr 16min actual flying time. The consumption of petrol was low—only lOgal. The machine, which was making her maiden trip, is fitted with a Le Rhone engine. Captain Douglas Gray was pilot, Mr J. E. Cruse mechanic, and Mf 11. J. Wilson observer.

INTERESTING PEOPLE IN THE NEWS OF THE WEEK

STAR, ISSUE 20054, 17 SEPTEMBER 1920 https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/TS19200917.2.21?query=...

GOING UP. CAPTAIN DOUGLAS GRAY, of the Canterbury Aviation Company, who has made several cross-country flights recently, has had a great denl of experience in flying various typos of machines. Night flying formed a special part of his duty during the war, and he was engaged in flying new machines across the Channel to France. Captain Gray belongs to Gisborne, and is an Old Boy of Wanganui College.

He was engaged in ferrying machines across the Channel and night flying out of East Fortune, RNAS base in Scotland.