18 Facts About Nigel Park

Nigel Park was credited with having shot down at least ten aircraft.

Nigel Park briefly flew with No 122 Squadron on the Channel Front before being sent as a reinforcement pilot to the island of Malta in July 1942.

Nigel Manfred Park was born in Gisborne, New Zealand, on 6 March 1921, the son of Manfred Park and his wife Christina.

Nigel Park was a nephew of Keith Park, who would later command No 11 Group in the Battle of Britain.

Nigel Park joined the Royal New Zealand Air Force in May 1941, doing his initial training at Wereroa Station near Levin.

In June 1942, Nigel Park was sent to Gibraltar; he was to be posted to the island of Malta as a reinforcement pilot for its aerial defences.

Nigel Park travelled to Malta aboard the aircraft carrier HMS Eagle, which was transporting 32 Spitfires to the island in Operation Pinpoint.

Nigel Park claimed a share in one Ju 88, one of four pilots that engaged the aircraft which crashed off Delimara.

Nigel Park then shot down a Messerschmitt Bf 109 fighter that was escorting the bombers.

Nigel Park shot down a Bf 109 over St Paul's Bay despite his own aircraft receiving some damage to its wing during the engagement.

Nigel Park had a series of more successful engagements over the following days: he damaged a Reggiane Re.

Nigel Park destroyed another Bf 109 during a scramble to intercept another bombing raid in the afternoon.

Nigel Park was subject to an incident of friendly fire the next day when, while engaging some bomb-equipped Bf 109s, he was attacked by Spitfires, fortunately without damage.

Nigel Park crash-landed his damaged Spitfire and received slight injuries.

Nigel Park is credited with the destruction of ten enemy aircraft, a share in another aircraft destroyed and one damaged.

Since July, 1942, Sergeant Nigel Park has destroyed at least 8 enemy aircraft.

Sergeant Nigel Park showed great enthusiasm to press home his attack whatever dangers had to be faced.

Nigel Park's name is recorded on the Malta Memorial, which commemorates the nearly 2,300 Commonwealth airmen who were killed over and around the Mediterranean.