Operation: Interception

Date: 25th October 1942 (Sunday)

Unit: No. 126 Squadron (motto: 'Foremost in attack)

Type: Spitfire Vc

Serial: BR311

Code: MK-L

Base: RAF Luqa, Malta

Location: Mediterranean Sea

Pilot: P/O. Nigel Manfred Park DFM. NZ/412727 RNZAF Age 21. Missing - believed killed

REASON FOR LOSS:

Just a week before his loss he was shot down and crash landed hid Spitfire EP345 MK-X, he escaped with minor injuries.

A fighter ace with 6 x Bf109's, 3 Ju88's with 1 other shared also a Italian Reggiane Re.2001 damaged. All whilst with 126 Squadron in Malta.

Very little known about his2 loss. He took off at 15:17 hrs with nine others to intercept enemy aircraft. Shot down and coming down in the Mediterranean, his body was never recovered.

First row left to right: P/O. Léopold Collignon (Belgian - Died 11th September 1995). P/O. J.E. Wilkin (Belgian). F/O. Browlie, Medical Officer. Sgt. John Patrick Barrett (killed 19th June 1942). P/O. Kenneth Charles Michael Giddings (Air Marshall - died 05th April 2009). Fl/Lt. Patrick Peter Colum Barthropp (Irish DFC. GSM - Passed away 16th April 2008). P/O. William Thomas Edward Rolls (British - Died July 1988). F/O. Howard Lucy. Sq/Ldr. Léon Prévot (Belgian - Died 28th April 1994). Sir Stanley Reed (Politician - Died 17th January 1969). Fl/Lt Lyndon Poynton Griffith. F/O. Fage or Page. Fl/Lt. Herbert James Lempriere Hallowes (W/Cdr - Died on the 20th October 1987). Sgt. Donald Robert Morrison (Canadian - Died on the 28th January 1994). Sgt. James Edward Mortimer (New Zealand - Died on the 16th December 1997). Sgt. McDonald.

Second row left to right: P/O. J.E. Fowler. Sgt Nigel Manfred Park. P/O ? P/O. William Arnold Prest (Canadian). Sgt. W.E. Dunsmore. P/O. José Muller (Belgian). P/O. John Lawrence Crisp (British - Killed on the 08th June 1942). P/O. Raymond Van de Poel (Belgian - Killed 11th July 1943). P/O. Brian John Bland (Killed on the 26th April 1943). Sgt. Donald Frank Hubbard (Killed on the 28th July 1942). P/O. Jack Garfield Durkin (Canadian - Killed on the 30th July 1942)

Burial details:

P/O. Nigel Manfred Park DFM. Malta Memorial. Panel 5. Column 1. Born on the 06th March 1921 at Gisborne, the son of Manfred Nigel and Christina Maud Park (née Ferguson), of Whatututu, Auckland, New Zealand. Prior to service worked as a shepherd on his fathers farm. A total of 296 flying hours logged and having completed 265 operational sorties.

Note: He was the nephew of Air Chief Marshal Sir Keith Rodney Park, GCB, KBE, MC and Bar, DFC (15th June 1892 – 6th February 1975)

Researched and dedicated to the relatives of this pilot with thanks to the research by Errol Martyn and his publications: “For Your Tomorrow Vols. 1-3”, Auckland War Memorial Museum, Weekly News of New Zealand, other sources as quoted below:

At the going down of the sun, and in the morning we will remember them. - Laurence Binyon
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