Ensign John Parkin Dies In Accident

Ensign John Bell Parkin, 21, was killed May 1 in an airplane accident at the naval air station, Sanford, Fla., his mother, Mrs. Lillian N. Parkin, 134 H. Lincoln was informed Tuesday night. Services and burial were held in Lincoln.

Ensign Parkin was graduated from Lincoln high and attended the University of Nebraska for one year. He entered naval service in June, 1943, and was graduated from Corpus Christi, Tex., March 14, 1945. Following graduation he spent a 7-day leave with his mother in Lincoln.

Details of his death have not yet been received. A fighter pilot, he was taking additional training at Sanford in night flying.

A brother, Lt. Thomas W. Parkin, who recently received his commission in the medical corps and a sister Jean, at home, also survives. His father, the late Rev. T. W. Parkin, died in 1941, and was at one time pastor of the Arlington Methodist church.

Pilot Tribune 10 May 1945

News has been received here of the death May 1st of Ensign John Bell Parkin, aged 21, who crashed while receiving additional training as a fighter pilot at Sanford, Fla. He was a son of the late Rev. Thomas Parkin, who was pastor of the Methodist church here several years ago. Ensign Parkin’s mother is now living in Lincoln. The young man graduated from the training field at Corpus Christi March 14. Besides his mother, he is survived by a sister, Jean, and a brother, Lt. Thomas W. Parkin of the army medical corps.

Enterprise 10 May 1945

Ensign John Parkin Dies In Accident

Arlington – News of the death of Ensign John Bell Parkin, who was killed on May 1st, was received here a few days ago by friends.

Ensign Parkin was 21 years of age, the younger son of the late Rev. Thos. W. Parkin and Mrs. Parkin, the latter now of Lincoln. Johnny, as he was known here, attended high school while his parents lived here, his father being the minister in the Methodist Church for several years. Later he graduated from the Lincoln High School, and attended the university for one year, and entered naval service in June, 1943, graduating from Corpus Christi, Texas, on March 14, 1945. He recently spent a 7-day leave with his mother and sister, Jean, in Lincoln.

No details of his death have been received except that as a fighter pilot, he was taking additional training at Sanford in night flying when an accident occurred.

Besides his mother and sister, he is survived by a brother, Lt. Thos. Parkin, in the Medical Corps.

Arlington Review Herald 3 May 1945

Former Arlington Boy In Service

Following is an item of interest to Arlington residents:

Ensign John B. Parkin, 21, navy fighter pilot who was graduated at Corpus Christi March 14, 1945, recently spent a seven day leave with his mother in Lincoln. Son of the late Rev. T. W. Parkin and Mrs. Parkin, now living at 1345 H, he is a graduate of Lincoln high school and attended the university one year. Ensign Parkin, who is in the navy reserve, is now at Sanford, Fla., for additional training.

His brother, Lt. Thomas w. Parkin, 24, a graduate of Northwestern medical college, was commissioned first lieutenant in the army medical corps March 20. A graduate of Wesleyan university in 1941, Lt. Parkin, then of St. Paul, Neb., that year won the first annual American Legion national commander’s $400 scholarship in the central area, embracing 12 state, and continued his studies at Northwestern.

~~~ Obituary courtesy of the Washington County Genealogical Society. Newspaper clippings on file in the Blair Public Library at Blair, Nebraska.~~~