James Pennington Parks
First Lieutenant James P. “Jim” Parks was a Marine pilot with VMSB-236.
His aircraft was lost in a storm near Malekula Island, Vanuatu, on 5 December 1943.
Branch
Marine Corps Reserve
Service Number O-11931
Current Status
Remains Not Recovered.
Pursuit Category
The DPAA has not publicized this information.
Capsule History
Pre-War Life
Birth
November 7, 1921
at La Mesa, CA
Parents
Dr. Joseph Andrew Parks (d. 1933)
Rose (Miller) Parks
Education
Grossmont High School (1939)
San Diego State University
Occupation & Employer
College student
Service Life
Entered Service
October 17, 1941 (enlisted)
December 4, 1942 (commission)
Home Of Record
4805 Lee Avenue
La Mesa, CA
Next Of Kin
Mother, Mrs. Rose Parks
Military Specialty
Pilot
Primary Unit
VMSB-236
Campaigns Served
Solomon Islands (one tour)
Individual Decorations
—
Additional Service Details
—
Loss And Burial
Circumstances Of Loss
On 5 December 1943, the rear flight echelon of VMSB-236 – a dive bomber squadron based at Efate – flew a routine anti-sub patrol around the islands of Vanuatu (then called New Hebrides). A storm front moving through the area complicated the search, and one SBD Dauntless lost its bearings. The pilot, First Lieutenant James P. Parks, reckoned he was near the southwest tip of Malekula Island and radioed back to Efate.
“When last heard from, Lt. Parks stated that he was out of gas and was about to make a water landing,” noted the squadron’s war diary. “He was instructed to turn on his emergency IFF but all efforts to get a bearing on him failed.” Nothing more was heard from Parks or his gunner, Sergeant Charles H. Rayot.
Fellow pilots searched the islands for two days, but were unable to find any trace of the missing Marines of their plane.
Burial Information or Disposition
Parks and Rayot were reported as “missing, not in combat” on 5 December 1943, and officially declared dead on 6 December 1944.
James Parks was promoted to the rank of Captain while in missing status.
Next Of Kin Address
Address of mother, Mrs. Rose M. Parks.
Location Of Loss
Parks’ last reported position was off the southwest tip of Malekula Island.
