It was the third Paralympic medal for New Zealand after cyclist Anna Taylor clinched silver earlier in the week.
Aitchison produced an outstanding display inside a hot and steamy Stade de France last night but ultimately had to concede defeat to the outstanding Yiting Shi of China, who set a Paralympic record of 27.50 - to finish 0.14 ahead of the Kiwi.
Unfortunately, it was not to be for Aitchison, who set a world record of 27.47 when winning the Kobe 2024 Para Athletics World Championships title in this event in May, but she still had the satisfaction of winning silver and also executing one of the fastest competitive performances of her career.
"It was definitely a hard race, I felt pretty strong coming out of the blocks and on the home straight I was neck-and-neck with Shi, it was a serious race," she said.
"I was a bit disappointed with the last five metres and got really fatigued.
"I'm feeling tired - I had a late night (after the evening heats) and didn't get to bed until this morning. I am happy with the time, which was great.
"My mum was in the crowd and it was really cool to have nine support people watching me. A very different experience from Tokyo."
Aitchison, who has cerebral palsy, has been coached by Alan McDonald in 2018.
She won a silver medal in the women's 200m T36 and bronze in the women's 100m T36 at the Tokyo Paralympics in 2021.
Aitchison and Shi, the current world champion, are long-time rivals, with both frequently placing on the podium and besting each other's record times at international meets.
Aitchison earlier broke the 200m Paralympic record in the qualifiers, with a time of 28.21 seconds.
Another medal for Murray
Murray ensured New Zealand would celebrate a second podium by securing a comprehensive victory in the bronze medal final from Claudia Cretti of Italy in the Women's C5 3000m Individual Pursuit overnight (NZ time).
Despite forgetting her prosthetic, the Kiwi had earlier hacked more than two-and-a-half seconds from her national record in qualification registering 3:37.599 and the 31-year-old Cambridge-based Para cyclist was even more impressive in the bronze medal final.
Dominating from the early stages by the 1000m checkpoint she opened up a lead of more than three seconds on her Italian rival and maintained the relentless pace for remainder of the race.
Rapidly closing in on the struggling Cretti, Murray flashed across the line in 3:36.201 to better her New Zealand record from earlier in the day to complete an outstanding ride.
In an all French final, Marie Patouillet defeated reigning world champion Heidi Gaugain to take gold.
"I'm over the moon," Murray said. "This is my first Paralympic medal it feels amazing, I'm glad I can honour the team and all the people around me and all the work they've put into me. It is cool to share that feeling with them."
Leaving her prosthetic at the Paralympic Village for her qualification "definitely cost me time at the start of the race', she said. "
But the team rallied and got the prosthetic or me for the final. I rode the final a lot smoother and a lot more consistently.
"I've been trying to hold myself together for the podium - it will come out when I hug my parents. It's unreal. This is the first time they've seen me race at any international competition and it is very special. When you are on the road with the Team you endure all the highs and lows and they become like your family. It is always great to have that support around me."
All three Kiwi Shooting Para sport athletes were in action at the Chateauroux Shooting Centre, though none advanced to the final.
Six-time Paralympian Michael Johnson finished 20th in qualification for the R5 Mixed Air Rifle Prone SH2 event.
Neelam O'Neill and Greg Reid missed out on advancing to the eight-strong final of the R3 Mixed 10m Air Rifle Prone SH1. In the qualification session, O'Neill finished in 21st with Reid 31st.
Disappointment for injured Briggs
There was disappointment for Kiwi cyclist Devon Briggs and swimmer Tupou Neiufi who missed a spot in the final in their respective events.
Riding with a fractured sacrum and dislocated coccyx following a training crash, Briggs finished seventh in qualification for the men’s C1-3 1000m time trial.
The 20-year-old Kiwi, who claimed the world C3 time trial title in Rio earlier this year, understandably struggled to find his best given the nature of his injuries.
He covered the four laps at the Saint-Quentin-En-Yvelines Velodrome in 1min 8.505sec, 3sec off his personal best.
Briggs finished just 1sec outside a place in the six-strong final but intends to be back on his bike to ride on the road in both the C3 time trial and C1-3 road race later in the Paris programme.
"I’m gutted to miss the medal ride but that is how sport goes sometimes", Briggs said.
"Getting into the gate, I felt confident, but from first pedal stroke I just felt my sacrum go and I felt the pain instantly. It was a hard ride from there.
"I got out of bed this morning and every part of my body did not want to ride but I wanted to ride in my head and prove I am a Paralympian. I did that, and I am proud of myself."
Neiufi struggled in the defence of her women’s 100m backstroke S8 title from the Tokyo Paralympics.
The Auckland-based swimmer, who was a late inclusion into the New Zealand team, made a good start in heat two and placed third at the 50m mark.
However, she faded to fifth in the second half of the race, clocking 1min 23.49sec to place ninth overall, one place shy of a final berth.
On her Paralympic debut, Neelam O’Neill put together a strong performance to finish 10th in qualification in the P2 women’s 10m air pistol SH1.
Wojtek Czyz completed his badminton challenge with a 21-8, 21-12 loss to Daisuke Fujihara, of Japan.
Czyz, the first New Zealand Paralympic representative in the sport, ended his campaign with a third defeat but the 44-year-old can be hugely proud after taking up the sport only three years ago.
"My Paralympic experience in Paris was sensational", Czyz said.
‘‘I would have loved to give New Zealand a win and I am very honoured to represent the country. I hope everyone saw that I tried to win every point."
- additional reporting ODT
