312

RV/NF (right aligned)
416150 : Sergeant Austen Bristow PARTON.
PARENTS : Mr. & Mrs. A.G. Parton of Paeroa.

Austen Parton was born on the 3rd March, 1919 at Napier. He received his secondary education at Hastings High School, where he obtained his School Certificate. The sports in which he was actively interested included tennis, football and cricket. After leaving school he was employed by the Hawkes Bay Newspapers Ltd., and prior to his enlistment in the R.N.Z.A.F. by the Manawatu Daily Times Co., Ltd., Palmerston North, as a journalist. He also served in the Territorials for 2 years.

Sergeant Parton applied for aircrew training on the 28th October, 1940, and was enlisted at the Initial Training Wing, Levin on the 9th November 1941. In December 1941 he was posted to No. 2 Elementary Flying Training School, New Plymouth where after a short time his pilot training was terminated. On the 21st March 1942 he was posted to the Initial Training Wing, Rotorua, where he commenced training as an air observer. On the completion of his initial training he embarked for Canada on the 27th April, 1942.

Sgt. Parton arrived in Canada on the 18th May, 1942 and on the 25th of the same month was posted to No. 5 Air Observers School, Winnipeg, Manitoba, where - on the 11th September, 1942 - he was awarded his air observer's badge and promoted to the rank of Sergeant. He embarked for the United Kingdom late in September, 1942.

Sgt. Parton arrived at No. 3 Personnel Reception Centre, Bournemouth on the 9th October 1942, and - on the 26th of the month - was posted to No. 10 (Observer) Advanced Flying Unit, Dumfries, Dumfries-shire, and thence - on the 6th January, 1943 - to No. 11 Operational Training Unit, Oakley, Buckinghamshire, where he crewed up and completed his training as navigator on Wellington bomber aircraft. Late in April 1943 he was posted to No. 1651 Conversion Unit, Waterbeach, Cambridgeshire, where he converted to Stirling bomber aircraft. On the 29th May he was posted to No. 149 Squadron,