Flight Lieutenant John Colin Mungo-Park DFC by Eric Kennington, pastel on paper

This pastel portrait is one of many made by Eric Kennington during his two-year full-time Official War Artist commission with the Air Ministry through the War Artists' Advisory Committee. A renowned portraitist, he was tasked with portraying high-ranking men in the RAF.

John Mungo-Park had an exceptional service record. He sat for this portrait at Biggin Hill two months after being awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross for his actions during the Battle of Britain, when he shot down five German aircraft while flying with No. 74 Squadron. In July 1941 he went missing, presumed dead, on a daylight raid over France. He was only 22 years old. From the Air Ministry allocation of works from the War Artists' Advisory Committee, 1947. Original accession number: LD837. On loan from the RAF Air Historical Branch (MOD). Copyright: Crown (expired) / RAF Museum.