303

From this latter attack on the night of 30/31st March, 1944, the aircraft failed to return to its base, and Flight Sergeant Parkinson together with all members of the crew, was classified as missing. Later it was learned from a German source through the International Red Cross Committee that the aircraft had been shot down near Dillenburg in Germany and that two members of the crew had been captured and taken Prisoners of War, the others including Flight Sergeant Parkinson having been killed. In due course the death of Flight Sergenat Parkinson was officially presumed to have occurred on the 31st March 1944.

A post war casualty search revealed that Flight Sergeant Parkinson was buried in the Dillenburg Cemetery, and on the cessation of hostilities was re-interred in the Hanover Military Cemetery in Germany.

Other New Zealanders who were members of the crew of the aircraft were Pilot Officer A.E. Lander (Prisoner of War) of Auckland, Flying Officer M.G. Hutchinson of Christchurch, and Flight Sergeant R.L. Cato of Lower Hutt.

Find a Grave link with a photo of Flight Sergeant Parkinson: https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/18585340/cyril_robert-parkinson

5/15/2996 AS2.
170 hours as Air Gunner.

Mrs. P. Parkinson (Mother) (right aligned)
Private Bag, (right aligned)
TE AWAMUTU. (right aligned)