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NZ4124125 Flying Officer Graham George PARKIN.
MOTHER: Mr. I.R. Parkin of Lower Hutt.

Graham Parkin was born on the 3rd February 1923 at Wellington and received his secondary education at the Hutt Valley High School passing the School Certificate examination in 1939. He played football, tennis, cricket and golf, and also took an active part in athletics. On leaving school he was employed in a clerical capacity by the Defence Purchase Department, and the Treasury Department, and at the time of applying for aircrew training in the Royal New Zealand Air Force on the 30th December, 1941 was a member of the Staff of the National Bank of New Zealand, Wellington.

Flying Officer Parker was enlisted at Ohakea on the 30th October 1942 and was employed on Ground Duties at this Station, and later at Woodbourne, on the 13th November prior to being remustered to Airman Pilot and posted to the Initial Training Wing, Rotorua on the 4th March 1943. He proceeded to No. 2 Elementary Flying Training School, Ashburton on the 28th April to commence his flying training and embarked for Canada on the 18th July to continue his flying training under the Empire Air Training Scheme.

On arrival in Canada Flying Officer Parkin was posted on the 5th August to No. 12 Service Flying Training School, Brandon, Manitoba where on the 26th November, he was awarded the Flying Badge and promoted to Sergeant. While in the United Kingdom he was commissioned in the rank of Pilot Officer on the 18th February 1944 and six months later on the 18th August was further promoted to Flying Officer. Shortly after his promotion to Sergeant, Flying Officer Parkin commenced training on the 11th December 1943 to No. 1 General Reconnaissance Squadron, Summerside, Prince Edward Island, where he trained on Anson and Oxford aircraft prior to proceeding on the 27th February, 1944 to No. 1 "Y' Depot, Lachine, Quebec for embarkation to the United Kingdom.

Flying Officer Parkin dissembarked at No. 12 PERSONNEL Despatch and Reception Centre, Brighton on the 3rd April, and remained there until his posting on the 2nd May to No. 20 (Pilots) Advanced Flying Unit, Kidlingdon, Oxfordshire, then to No. 132 Operational Training Unit, East Fortune, East Lothian where he crewed-up and trained on Beaufort and Beaufighter aircraft. From here he proceeded on the 18th October to No. 1 Torpedo Training Unit, Turnberry, Ayrshire, prior to being posted to No. 489 (N.Z.) Squadron, Dallachy, Scotland on the 24th November for oper-