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NZ412518 Sergeant Lewis Harry PARKINSON.
PARENTS: Mr. & Mrs. H.L. Parkinson of OPOTIKI.

Lewis Parkinson was born on the 28th November 1921 at Wanganui and received his secondary education at the Opotiki District High School, passing the Matriculation examination in December, 1938 and afterwards studying commercial subjects by correspondence with Druleigh College Ltd., Auckland. He played football, being a member of his school 1st XV and was also interested in boxing and swimming. At the time of applying for enlistment in aircrew in the Royal New Zealand Air Force, he was employed as a Compositor and Linotype operator in the "Opotoki News".

Sergeant Parkinson was enlisted at the Initial Training Wing, Levin on the 13th April 1941, and on completion of his Ground Training Course proceeded to No. 2 Elementary Flying Training School, New Plymouth to commence his flying training as a Airman Pilot. This was terminated on the 5th July when he was remustered to Air Observer. He was then reposted to Levin on the 31st August, and embarked for Canada on the 20th October to continue his training under the Empire Air Training Scheme.

On arrival in Canada on the 8th November 1941 Sergeant Parkinson proceeded to No. 7 Air Observers School, Portage la Prairie, Manitoba then to No. 7 Bombing and Gunnery School, Paulson, Manitoba on the 12th February 1942 where on the 28th March he was awarded the Air Observer Badge and promoted to Sergeant. His next posting was to No. 1 Air Navigation School, Rivers, Manitoba, on the 29th March for further training before proceeding on the 27th April to No. 1 "Y" Depot, Halifax, Nova Scotia for embarkation to the United Kingdom.

Sergeant Parkinson disembarked in United Kingdom on the 23rd May, 1942 and remained attached to No. 3 Personnel Reception Centre, Bournemouth until 7th July when he was posted to No. 11 Operational Training Unit, Bassingbourn, Hertfordshire, for crewing-up and training on Wellington bomber aircraft. He then commenced operational flying on the 20th September, as a member of No. 75 (N.Z. Squadron, Feltwell, Norfolk, and from this base took part in four operational flights as Navigator of a Wellington bomber.

On the 13th October (was 1932) 1942 Sergeant Parkinson was the Navigator of a Wellington Bomber aircraft which took off on war operations and failed to return to its base. All members of the crew including Sergeant Parkinson were classified as missing. Subsequently information was received from a German official source through the International