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Archive Report: Allied Forces

Compiled from official National Archive and Service sources, contemporary press reports, personal logbooks, diaries and correspondence, reference books, other sources, and interviews.
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610 crest
06th February 1943 610 Squadron Spitfire Vb BL769 P/O. Parker

Operation: Rhubarf

Date: 06th February 1943 (Saturday)

Unit: No. 610 Squadron (motto: Alifero tollitur axe ceres - 'Ceres rising in a winged chariot')/. 11 Group

Type: Spitfire Vb

Serial: BL769

Code: DW-C

Base: RAF Westhampnett, Sussex

Location: English Channel

Pilot: P/O. Howard Russell Parker NZ/414331 RNZAF Age 24. Missing believed killed

REASON FOR LOSS:

Taking off at 12:05 and took part in two attacks in the Bayeux region.

During the return trip was last seen over the Channel some 20 miles north of Cherbourg.

A 485 squadron pilot, P/O. L.B. Gordom NZ/414281 RNZAF flying Spitfire Vb BM513 presentation Spitfire Banzyville) was shot down and taken PoW at Stalag Luft Sagan PoW No. 200.

Burial and personal details:

P/O. Howard Russell Parker. Runnymede Memorial. Panel 198. Born on the 02nd May 1918 at Burnham. Worked as a mechanic for Dominion Motors of Christchurch prior tp service. Enlisted at Levin on the 27th July 1941. Attached to No. 1 Elementary Flying Training School joining on the 06th September 1941 then to No, 1 Flying Training School joining on 18th October 1941. Pilots badge awarded on the 05th December 1941and promoted to sergeant on the 10th January 1942. Embarked for England on the 30th January 1942. At No. 17 Pilots Advanced Flying Unit on the 29th April 1942. Conversion training at 56 Operational Training Unit joining on the 26th May 1942. Finally joining 610 squadron on the 25th August. Commissioned on the 10th November 1942. Son of Thompson Ferguson Parker and Lucy Alice Parker (Nee Wright) of Christchurch, husband of Olive Thelma Parker (nee Greenaway - later Harrison) of 150 Aldwins Road, Linwood, Christchurch, New Zealand. A total of 354 flying hours logged an on his 10 operational sortie.

Researched and dedicated to the relatives of this pilot with thanks to the extensive research by Errol Martyn and his publications: “For Your Tomorrow Vols. 1-3”, Auckland Library Heritage Collection, Weekly News of New Zealand, other sources as quoted below:

KTY 24-08-2021

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Acknowledgements
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Sources used by us in compiling Archive Reports include: Bill Chorley - 'Bomber Command Losses Vols. 1-9, plus ongoing revisions', Dr. Theo E.W. Boiten and Mr. Roderick J. Mackenzie - 'Nightfighter War Diaries Vols. 1 and 2', Martin Middlebrook and Chris Everitt - 'Bomber Command War Diaries', Commonwealth War Graves Commission, Tom Kracker - Kracker Luftwaffe Archives, Michel Beckers, Major Fred Paradie (RCAF) and Captain François Dutil (RCAF) - Paradie Archive (on this site), Jean Schadskaje, Major Jack O'Connor USAF (Retd.), Robert Gretzyngier, Wojtek Matusiak, Waldemar Wójcik and Józef Zieliński - 'Ku Czci Połeglyçh Lotnikow 1939-1945', Andrew Mielnik: Archiwum - Polish Air Force Archive (on this site), Anna Krzystek, Tadeusz Krzystek - 'Polskie Siły Powietrzne w Wielkiej Brytanii', Franek Grabowski, Polish graves: https://niebieskaeskadra.pl/, PoW Museum Żagań, Norman L.R. Franks 'Fighter Command Losses', Stan D. Bishop, John A. Hey MBE, Gerrie Franken and Maco Cillessen - Losses of the US 8th and 9th Air Forces, Vols 1-6, Dr. Theo E.W. Boiton - Nachtjagd Combat Archives, Vols 1-13. Aircrew Remembered Databases and our own archives. We are grateful for the support and encouragement of CWGC, UK Imperial War Museum, Australian War Memorial, Australian National Archives, New Zealand National Archives, UK National Archives and Fold3 and countless dedicated friends and researchers across the world.
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