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NZ41931 Pilot Officer Gerald Andrew PARKINSON.
PARENTS: Mr. & Mrs. C.S. Parkinson of Gisborne.

Gerald Parkinson was born at Gisborne on the 26th July, 1921 and received his secondary education at the Gisborne High School, passing the Matriculation examination in 1937. He afterwards studied engineering and attended night classes at the Palmerston North Technical School. While at school he played football and cricket, and was interested in shooting. At the time of applying for aircrew training in the Royal New Zealand Air Force on the 7th May, 1940 he was employed as a Ground Engineer by Union Airways Ltd., Palmerston North.

Pilot Officer Parkinson was enlisted at the Initial Training Wing, Levin on the 8th February, 1941 and on completion of his Ground Training Course, proceeded on the 23rd March to No. 3 Elementary Flying Training School, Harewood to commence his flying training. At the conclusion of this course, he embarked for Canada on the 26th May to continue his training under the Empire Air Training Scheme.

On arrival in Canada on the 16th June, Pilot Officer Parkinson was posted to No. 10 Service Flying Training School, Dauphin, Manitoba where on the 1st September he was awarded the Flying Badge and promoted to Sergeant. He was further promoted to Flight Sergeant on the 1st January, 1943 while in the United Kingdom and commissioned in the rank of Pilot Officer, on the 27th January, 1943. Meanwhile he had proceeded to No. 1 "Y" Depot, Halifax, Nova Scotia on the 7th September, 1941 for embarkation to the United Kingdom.

Pilot Officer Parkinson disembarked on the 28th September 1941 and remained attached to No. 3 Personnel Reception Centre, Bournemouth until his posting on the 20th October to No. 20 Operational Training Unit, Lossiemouth, Scotland for crewing up and training on Wellington bomber aircraft, then to No. 12 Operational Training Unit, Chipping Warden, Oxfordshire, on the 21st June, 1942 where he trained on Anson and Wellington aircraft. His next posting was to No. 1651 Conversion Unit, Waterbeach, Cambridge on the 16th September for conversion to Stirling bomber aircraft, prior to commencing his operational flying on the 19th October as a member of No. 218