Robert Hampton Gray
Lieutenant, Royal Canadian Naval Volunteer Reserve. 1841 Squadron, Fleet Air Arm
- Register No.
- 483 (Alf's numbering, from The Register of the Victoria Cross, 1997)
- Rank
- Lieutenant (register: Temp. Lieutenant) all Lieutenants →
- Unit
- Royal Canadian Naval Volunteer Reserve. 1841 Squadron, Fleet Air Arm (register: HMS Formidable) all HMS Formidable VCs →
- Date of action
- 9 August 1945 on this day → all of 1945 →
- Conflict / campaign
- Second World War
- London Gazette
- 13th November, 1945 on this day → all of 1945 →
- Born
- 2nd November, 1917 at Trail, British Columbia, Canada
- Died
- 9th August 1945 at Honshu, Japan. (killed in action)
- Award
- Posthumous all posthumous VCs →
- Memorial / grave
- on Halifax Memorial, Nova Scotia, Canada
Digest of citation
On 9th August 1945 at Onagawa Wan, Japan, Lieutenant Gray led an attack on a Japanese destroyer. In the face of fire from shore batteries and heavy concentration of fire from some five warships, he pressed home his attack, flying very low in order to ensure success. Although he was wounded and his aircraft in flames he obtained at least one direct hit, sinking the destroyer. His aircraft crashed into the bay
From Alf Askin's research notes
Reproduced as Alf wrote it, c. 2000–2005. Spelling and abbreviations are his own.
GRAY, Robert Hampton. (reg No. 483).
Lieutenant Royal Canadian Naval Volunteer Reserve. 1841 Squadron, Fleet Air Arm.
London Gazetted on 13th November, 1945.
Born on 2nd November, 1917 at Trail, British Columbia, Canada.
Died on 9th August 1945 at Honshu, Japan. (killed in action).
Memorial on Halifax Memorial, Nova Scotia, Canada.
Digest of Citation reads: On 9th August 1945 at Onagawa Wan, Japan, Lieutenant Gray led an attack on a Japanese destroyer. In the face of fire from shore batteries and heavy concentration of fire from some five warships, he pressed home his attack, flying very low in order to ensure success. Although he was wounded and his aircraft in flames he obtained at least one direct hit, sinking the destroyer. His aircraft crashed into the bay.
Additional information:. Lieutenant Gray also held the Distinguished Service Cross (DSC).
Additional information
Lieutenant Gray also held the Distinguished Service Cross (DSC).
Visit the grave or memorial
Alf recorded the memorial as: on Halifax Memorial, Nova Scotia, Canada
Map links open a search for the place name Alf recorded; please check opening times and exact locations before travelling. Many VC graves have since been restored by the Victoria Cross Trust.
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