Pilot Officer Geoffrey Haughton Cray
RNZAF, 25 Squadron SDB Dauntless Pilot

Background
Geoffrey Cray was born in Napier, New Zealand. In June 1940 called up for territorial training and went to Australia. However when one of his brothers went to Canada under the Empire Air Training Scheme.

Wartime History
Assigned to the Royal New Zealand Air Force (RNZAF) with with service number 4213648. On August 30, 1942 earned his flying badge. On October 23, 1942 commissioned as Pilot Officer. On November 1, 1942 Cray was assigned to No. 25 Squadron at Seagrove for training as a pilot for torpedo dive bombers. On February 1, 1944 moved with the Squadron to Espiritu Santo. After further training he went northward to Guadalcanal then onward to Piva Airfield on Bougainville, where he flew combat missions against Vunapopo, Rabaul, Lakunai Airfield, Vunakanau Airfield, Talili Bay and Buka.

Mission History
On April 17, 1944 took off from Piva Airfield piloting SBD "Prune's Progrss" NZ5050 as one of eleven SBD on a bombing mission against Lakunai Airfield near Rabaul. Over the target, the formation experienced heavy anti-aircraft fire and was shot down. When this aircraft failed to return it was officially listed as Missing In Action (MIA).

Relatives
Trevor Haughton Cray (brother)
Geoffs borther, Wireless Operator air gunner Trevor Haughton Cray was kill in action as a crew member aboard a Wellington bomber, lost during the night of July 29, 1942 over Schleswig, Germany.

References
CWGC - Geoffrey Haughton Cray