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NZ421090 FLIGHT SERGEANT VICTOR TREVOR PARKIN.
PARENTS. Mr. & Mrs. F.J. Parkin of Dargaville.

Victor Parkin was born at Dargaville on the 6th September 1921, and received his secondary education at the Dargaville High School gaining the Senior Free Place. He played football, tennis and cricket, being Captain of the Old Boys Rugby team. On leaving school he studied bookkeeping and was employed in a clerical capacity for two years, before becoming apprentices as a painter and decorator. At the time of applying for aircrew training in the Royal New Zealand Air Force on the 6th March 1941 he was employed by his fahter, Mr. F.J. Parkin of Dargaville.

Flight Sergeant Parkin was enlisted at the Initial Training Wing, Levin on the 8th February 1942 proceeding to the Initial Training Wing, Rotorua on the 22nd February where he completed his Ground Training Course prior to commencing his flying training on the 3rd April at No. 3 Elementary Flying Training School, Harewood. He embarked for Canada on the 22nd June to continue his training under the Empire Air Training Scheme.

On arrival in Canada on the 16th July Flight Sergeant Parkin was attached to No. 5 "M" Depot, Lachine, Quebec, until his posting on the 2nd August to No. 12 Service Flying Training School, Brandon, Manitoba, where on the 20th November he was awarded the Flying Badge and promoted to Sergeant. He was further promoted to Flight Sergeant on the 1st June, 1943 while serving in the United Kingdom. In the meantime he had been posted to No. 1 "Y' Depot, Halifax, Nova Scotia for embarkation to the United Kingdom.

Flight Sergeant Parkin disembarked on the 19th December and remained attached to No. 3 Personnel Reception Centre, Bournemouth until the 6th February 1943 when he proceeded to No. 26 Elementary Flying Training School, Theale, Berkshire for a Refresher Course prior to being posted to No. 3 (P) Advanced Flying Unit, South Cerney, Gloucestershire, on the 2nd March. His next posting was to No. 11 Operational Training Unit, Westcott, Buckinghamshire on the 20th April where he crewed up and trained on Wellington bomber aircraft. On the 5th July he converted to Stirling bombers at No. 1561 Conversion Unit, Waterbeach, Cambridge and from this base was 2nd pilot of a