Park, William Arnold
Personal Information
Rank | P/O |
Forename(s) | William Arnold |
Surname | Park |
Gender | M |
Age | 32 |
Decorations | |
Date of Death | 27-01-1944 |
Next of Kin | Son of Andrew Park and Bella Ann Park (née Purdon), of Parry Sound District, Hemsworth, Ontario, Canada. |
Aircraft Information
Aircraft | Avro Lancaster II |
Serial Number | LL721 |
Markings | OW-U |
Memorial Information
Burial/Memorial Country | Germany |
Burial/Memorial Place | Berlin 1939-1945 War Cemetery |
Grave Reference | 9. J. 28. |
Epitaph |
IBCC Memorial Information
Phase | 2 |
Panel Number | 222 |
Enlistment Information
Service Number | J/85817 |
Service | Royal Canadian Air Force |
Group | 6 |
Squadron | 426 (Thunderbird) |
Trade | Air Gunner |
Country of Origin | Canada |
Other Memorials
Location | Adjacent to Village Hall, Dishforth, North Yorkshire |
Country | United Kingdom |
Memorial Type | Memorial Stone with Inscribed Metal Plaque & Maple Tree |
Memorial Text | In memory of the Canadian aircrew of 425 and 426 Sqns RCAF who served at RAF Dishforth, 1942-1945 |
Location | Outside Village Hall, Linton on Ouse, North Yorkshire |
Country | United Kingdom |
Memorial Type | Memorial Stone with inscribed Slate Tablet |
Memorial Text | In memory of Canadian personnel who served at RAF Linton on Ouse during WW2, including 408 and 426 Sqns RCAF |
Miscellaneous Information
William was born on 26 October 1911 at Parry Sound District, Hemsworth, Ontario. His father Andrew (who died in 1929), was born at Renfrew County, Ontario and had worked as a farmer. His mother Isabel (Bella) was also deceased (1918). He had three brothers John, Herman and Gordon. He also had a sister, Reta who was shown as his next-of-kin. She lived at Golden Valley, Ontario. The schools he attended were Powassan public 1918-1927 followed by Powassan High school 1927-1928 (Ontario). The only sport he occasionally took part in was softball. He worked for a few months as a mechanic in 1936 for a William Burns, and then as a clerk at Nippissing Flour and Feed store for a few months. After that he became a truck driver for M.H. Cameron in Golden Valley for three years until enlisting on 9 October 1941. |
After training William was posted to the U.K. and embarked from Canada on 28 October 1942, arriving at 3PRC on 6 November. He was then at 7 AGS 16 January 1943, 22 OTU 23 February 1943, 426 Sqn 1 May 1943, 1679 CU. 13 October 1943 and 426 Squadron on 26 October 1943. Sadly William was then to lose his life on 27 January 1944. |
Commonwealth War Graves Commission
The National Archives
Record of Events (Operational Record Book) AIR 27/1842/2 |
Summary of Events (Operational Record Book) AIR 27/1842/1 |
Fellow Servicemen
Last Operation Information
Start Date | 27-01-1944 |
End Date | 28-01-1944 |
Takeoff Station | Linton-on-Ouse |
Day/Night Raid | Night (8% moon) |
Operation | Berlin. 530 aircraft, 33 losses- all Lancasters (6.4%). The German fighters were particularly early joining this stream on this raid- many joining some 75 miles off the Dutch coast The diversionary raids were somewhat successful in luring the fighters away, particularly the Heligoland mining raid. As had now become the norm, Berlin was cloud-covered and sky-marking had to be used, Local reports stated that bombing was spread over a wide area, including smaller towns and village in the outskirts. 20000 people were bombed out and 50 industrial premises hit, including several that were important to war production. 56 people were killed |
Reason for Loss | Attacked three times by a night-fighter over the target and shot down. Abandoned on fire and out of control, crashing at Karcha, near Rausslitz, Germany. P/O MacDonald and P/O Park were able to escape the stricken aircraft but their parachutes failed to open and they were killed. Three survivors became prisoners of war. |