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NZ403822 Flight Sergeant William Ronald PARKES.
PARENTS: MR. & MRS W.D. PARKES OF ELTHAM.

William Parkes was born at Ohingatai on the 25th September, 1910 and after gaining his Proficiency Certificate undertook a correspondence course of study for three years, with Bowers Engineering School of Auckland. He played football and was interested in boxing and running and was also a member of the New Plymouth Aero Club, holding his "A" Pilots' Licence. At the time of applying for aircrew training in the Royal New Zealand Air Force on the 14th November 1939 he was employed as an engineer by the New Zealand Petroleum Company, New Plymouth.

Flight Sergeant Parkes was enlisted at No. 2 Elementary Flying Training School, New Plymouth on the 7th October, 1940 proceeding the Levin on the 18th January, 1941 for his Ground Training. On completion of this course, he was posted on the 2nd March to No. 4 Elementary Flying Training School, Whenuapai where he commenced his flying training. His next posting was to No. 2 Flying Training School, Blenheim on the 12th April to complete his training, and at this Unit on the 25th July he was awarded the Flying Badge and promoted to Sergeant. Later while serving overseas he was further promoted to Flight Sergeant on the 1st June, 1942. Meanwhile he had embarked for the United Kingdom via Canada on the 14th August.

On arrival in England on the 29th September Flight Sergeant Parkes was attached to No. 3 Personnel Reception Centre, Bournemouth prior to being posted on the 27th October for a course to No. 14 Beam Approach Training Flight, Coningsby, Lincolnshire. He then proceeded on the 27th October to No. 11 Operational Training Unit, Bassingbourne, Hertfordshire, where he crewed up and trained on Wellington bomber aircraft, until being posted on the 19th June, 1942 to No. 75 (NZ) Squadron, Feltwell, Norfolk, for operational flying.

From this base Flight Sergeant Parkes was a member of the crew of a Wellington bomber aircraft which took part in nineteen operational flights, the targets being Bremen (2) Wilhelmshaven, Duisburg (4), Hamburg (2), Saarbrucken (2), Dusseldorf, Mainz (2),