HARDLY NOTICED.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 65, Issue 267, 22 August 1945, Page 2

HARDLY NOTICED.

FAMOUS FIGHTER PILOT. (P.A.) AUCKLAND, August 21. There were no bands or cheei’ing crowds in Auckland yesterday to welcome New highest scoring fighter pilot, Wing Commander Colin Gray, D. 5.0., D.F.C., and two Bars, who arrived by air on short leave. Few, if any, of the hundreds who passed him in the streets recognised the slight, keen-eyed officer as the intrepid flyer, who wrote his name in a blaze of glory over blitzed London and war-torn Europe. Quiet, unassuming, and modest to a degree, Wing Commander .Gray steadfastly refused to talk of his exploits overseas. “That’s all over now” was all lie said. He added that it was great to be home, though he felt like a stranger in a strange land. Wing Commander Gray flew home by way of America, Honolulu and Fiji, He spent V-E Day on operational duties in England, and V-J Day in Santiago. , He left this morning for his home in 'Gisborne. Wing Commander Gray’s twin brother was killed on operations with the Air Force and another brother serving in the Army was killed in a tank. A Gisborne message says Wing Commander Gray has arrived home. His visit, the first since he joined the R.A.F. in 1938,- was unheralded. As he stepped from the aeroplane, he was greeted by local body representatives and a few friends. He went immediately to his home. He will be given a civic welcome on Wednesday.