Park, Robert Aird (Flt Sergeant)

Killed in Action 1943-November-20

Male Head

Birth Date: 1912

Born:

Parents: John A and Jessie A Park

Spouse: Hannah Park of Kilmarnock

Home: Kilmarnock, Ayrshire, Scotland

Enlistment:

Enlistment Date: unkown date

Service

RAF

Unit

422 (MP) Sqn- Squadron
This Arm Shall Do It

Base

RAF St. Angelo, Fermanaugh, N. Ireland

Rank

Flt Sergeant

Position

Gun Officer

Service Numbers

1349760

Target
Google MapConvoy Patrol
Runnymede Memorial, Surrey, England Sunderland Mk III W6031 SOS received from the aircraft at 19:10 reporting that it had been damaged by AA fire from a U-boat that it was attacking, and that it was making for Gibraltar. Nothing further was heard from it, lost without trace. Aircraft ditched approximately 150 miles West of Gibraltar.

Unit Desciption

422 (MP) Sqn This Arm Shall Do It ("Flying Yachtsmen")

History of the Squadron during World War II (Aircraft: Lerwick I, Catalina IB, III, VB, Sunderland III, Liberator VI, VIII)

No. 422 (General Reconnaissance) Squadron was the 19th RCAF squadron formed overseas in WWII. It was the 5th Coastal squadron, and was formed at Lough Erne, Fermanagh, Northern Ireland on April 2, 1942. It flew Consolidated Catalina and Short Sunderland flying boats on convoy support and anti-submarine patrols over the North Atlantic shipping routes. When hostilities ended in Europe, the squadron was re-designated a Transport (T) unit and was converting to Consolidated Liberator aircraft when hostilities terminated in the Far East. The squadron was then disbanded at Bassingbourn, Cambridgeshire, England on September 3, 1945.

In the course of its operations, the squadron flew 1116 operational sorties for the loss of 9 aircraft and 70 aircrew, of whom 11 were killed, 31 presumed dead, 6 injured and 22 rescued. The squadron is credited with 1 U-boat (U-625), sunk by the crew of Sunderland EK591 from St. Angelo. Ireland on 10 March 1940. The captain, WO2 W.F. Morton, was on his first operation. Awards to squadron members were 1 OBE, 1 MBE, 6 DFCs,1 BEM, 1 Air Medal (USA) and 22 MiD. Battle Honours were: Atlantic 1942-45, English Channel and North Sea 1944-45, Normandy 1944, Biscay 1944-45, Arctic 1942.

Maps for Movements of 422 Squadron 1942-45

MAP 1: 422 Squadron Movements 1942-45 (right-click on image to display enlarged in new tab)
MAP 2: 422 Squadron Movements 1942-45 (detail of Map 1)
MAP 3: Sinking of U-625

unvetted Source Sinking of U-625

unvetted Source 422 Squadron in the Battle of the Atlantic (RCAF Museum)

422 Squadron History Summary 1942-45

History of the Squadron Post-WWII (Aircraft: Sabre Mk. 2, 4, 5, 6, Starfighter, Huey, Kiowa)

The squadron was re-formed as a Fighter unit at Uplands (Ottawa), Ontario on 1 January 1953 with Canadair Sabre aircraft, and joined No. 4 (Fighter) Wing at Baden-Soellingen, Germany in August. Its nickname was changed to "Tomahawk". Selected as one of eight Sabre units in No. 1 Air Division Europe to be re-equipped with CF-104 Starfighter aircraft for a nuclear strike role, it was deactivated on 15 April 1963 and reactivated as Strike Attack on 15 July. On 1 February 1968 the squadron was integrated into the Canadian Armed Forces. The squadron was deactivated in July, 1970. The squadron was reactivated as 422 Tactical Helicopter Squadron in January 1971, and remained a helicopter squadron until it was finally disbanded in August 1980.