Park attended Yale University, graduating prior to the war. After finishing Flight School he was assigned to the 41st Fighter Squadron. He eventually achieved the rank of Captain. Edwards Park, O-792055 flew 199 combat missions: 415.35 combat hours with 494.35 hours in the SWPA. Besides flying combat he served as Squadron Operations Officer, Acting C.O. and Flight Commander.
He earned The Distinguished Flying Cross with Oak Leaf Cluster and the Air Medal with two Oak Leaf Cluster. He was awarded the Purple Heart for wounds suffered on the ground during a Japanese air raid on Nadzab Airfield on November 10, 1943.
Edward Park was assigned a P-39 Airacobra that he nicknamed "Nanette", and often flew this particular plane on missions in New Guinea, while based at Port Moresby, Tsilli-Tsilli and Nadzab. He is credited with a single aerial victory on March 4, 1944 when he ambushed a Ki-61 Tony of the 68th Sentai. The Japanese pilot bailed out and Park could see his face as he passed. Park chose not to strafe him in his parachute. This incident was described in his book, Angels Twenty.
Park wrote two popular books about his experiences as a fighter pilot in New Guinea, Nanette: Her Pilot's Love Story and Angels Twenty: A Young American Flier a Long Way from Home. Among his other books is The Art of William S. Phillips: The Glory of Flight.
Park died on February 12, 2005 [ Read Obituary ]
