1. John Mungo-Park was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross in 1940, and a Bar to the medal in 1941.
20 Facts About John Mungo-Park
1. 2.
John Mungo-Park's sister Linda had been born in 1913, and brother Geoffrey in 1915.
3.
John Mungo-Park is buried in the Valenciennes Military Cemetery in France.
4.
John Mungo-Park was educated as a boarder at Liverpool College, where he was a successful athlete and sportsman.
5.
John Mungo-Park joined the Royal Air Force on a short service commission in June 1937 and was made acting pilot officer on 9 August.
6.
The day after war was declared in September 1939, John Mungo-Park transferred to No 74 Squadron RAF flying Spitfires from RAF Hornchurch, commanded by Sailor Malan.
7.
On 24 May 1940, while No 74 Squadron were providing cover for the British retreat from France and the Dunkirk evacuation, John Mungo-Park was wounded and his Spitfire damaged during an engagement with a Henschel Hs 126, but he managed to recross the Channel and land at RAF Rochford.
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Sailor Malan 8.
John Mungo-Park led the attack on the 109s and his five-second burst into one of the fighters caused it to burst into flames and plunge into the sea.
9.
John Mungo-Park was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross on 15 November 1940.
10.
Flight Lieutenant John Mungo-Park attacked a Messerschmitt 109 but had to break off the engagement as his windscreen became iced up.
11.
John Mungo-Park cleaned this and again attacked the enemy aircraft and caused it to crash into the sea.
12.
John Mungo-Park has personally destroyed eight hostile aircraft and has at all times displayed great courage and coolness in action.
13.
On 14 November 1940 No 74 Squadron claimed a total of 13 Ju 87s in a mass dogfight over Dover, John Mungo-Park personally claiming two.
14.
On 10 March 1941 Sailor Malan was promoted, and John Mungo-Park became acting squadron leader.
15.
John Mungo-Park turned for home but his engine seized as he crossed the coast.
16.
Nonetheless, John Mungo-Park managed to stay airborne, gliding his Spitfire back to RAF Hawkinge.
17.
John Mungo-Park was shot down and killed when his plane crashed just north of Dunkirk, a couple of miles over the Belgian border.
18.
John Mungo-Park is buried in Adinkerke Military Cemetery, about 60 miles north of his father.
19.
John Mungo-Park succeeded in shooting down two of these and, although his own aircraft was badly damaged, Squadron Leader Mungo-Park flew back to this country making a skilful forced landing.
20.
John Mungo-Park had claimed 11 aircraft destroyed, 5 probables, and 4 damaged.