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Lot Essay
Sold with a quantity of related research and one or two photographs; a copy of Smyth's The George Cross Story; and the facsimile Flying Log Book (No. 2) of Guy Gibson, as published by After the Battle Ltd., this latter featuring a test flight in a Blenheim with the recipient on 15.11.1940.
E.G.M. London Gazette 6.8.1940 'On the night of June 8th 1940, this officer was First Pilot of an aircraft detailed for bombing operations. Just after taking off in complete darkness, the port engine failed. Displaying great coolness, Pilot Officer Parker raised the undercarriage and tried to fly straight on, but found that he could neither gain height nor speed with his heavily loaded aircraft on only one engine. Reducing speed to 80 m.p.h., he switched off his engine and "felt" the aircraft into the nearest field, in complete darkness. The aircraft crashed, however, and immediately burst into flames. Pilot Officer Parker jumped out and got clear to find that his Navigator and Air-Gunner were safe but the Warrant Officer was lying stunned near the burning aircraft. With complete disregard for his own safety, and knowing that there were four 500lb bombs in the wreckage which might explode at any moment, he returned and carried out his Warrant Officer to a place of safety. During this act, one of the bombs exploded and Pilot Officer Parker saved the airman from further injury by throwing him to the ground. This Officer showed exceptional coolness, resourcefulness, and courage throughout and, in the face of extreme danger, undoubtedly saved the life of his Warrant Officer'.
D.F.C. London Gazette 22.11.1940. Recommendation states 'Pilot Officer Parker, who is a Volunteer Reserve Officer, has carried out a total of 43 operational flights against the enemy during the course of which he has completed 250 hours flying. His work throughout has been of the very highest order. He has carried out numerous mining operations, bombing attacks, both low and high level, on all of which he has shown consistent courage, resourcefulness and devotion to duty. On the night of 4/5 September 1940, he was detailed to lead an attack on the oil refineries near Stettin. He proceeded ahead of the main attack, and located and bombed his target successfully from a low altitude, starting fires which enabled other aircraft to locate and attack the same target without difficulty. Pilot Officer Parker's careful planning, skill and determination in all of these operations have been of the very highest order and he has at all times set an excellent example to younger officers'.
Squadron Leader Edward Donald Parker, G.C., D.F.C., was born in 1910 at Westbridgeford, Nottingham. By 1940, having been commissioned into the R.A.F.V.R. and having qualified as a Navigator - he would later become a Pilot - Parker was operating out of Scampton with No. 49 Squadron, the unit's principal duties being mining operations, leaflet drops, reconnaissance work and bombing sorties.
On 18.1.1940, as part of a Hampden crew, he experienced numerous difficulties during a "Nickel" raid on Brunswick. The heating system failed on take off and later the intercom went on the blink. Later still, with the temperature down to -33 degrees C, the Wireless Operator became unconscious through cold and fell off his seat jamming shut the rear bulk head door. At length, the Observer, by 'howling' into the intercom, managed to inform the Captain of the Wireless Operator's predicament, and Parker, with great difficulty 'through having no oxygen', went aft to render aid. After 15 minutes work he brought the Wireless Operator, L.A.C. Dutton, round, before undertaking the task of emptying four bags of "Nickels" over the target, a job which was 'very exhausting'.
In April 1940 he flew on a mining mission but owing to various difficulties his Hampden did not plant its "melon", and instead made an impromptu but thorough Recce of a German airfield, joining in the circuit of two German aeroplanes and flying four times round the aerodrome unchallenged. By May 1940 Parker was flying in the driving seat as Captain of Aircraft and thereafter took part in regular war operations against a variety of targets including marshalling yards and factories and on one occasion the Tirpitz. On 8 June he performed his heroic Edward Gallantry Medal deed on crashing near Scampton, and a month later he received the last E.G.M. awarded to a member of the Royal Air Force at an Investiture held at Buckingham Palace on 3.9.1940. Following the exchange of the E.G.M. for the George Cross, Parker returned to Buckingham Palace to receive the latter decoration on 23.9.1941.
Having completed a full tour with 49 Squadron in 1940, Parker was posted into 29 Squadron, a Blenheim unit in the process of converting to Beaufighters. On 15.11.1940 he flew as 2nd Pilot in Blenheim L1303 on an air test to one of the great names of the war - Guy Gibson. On 28.11.1940 29 Squadron's Operational Record Book records Parker's involvement in the teething problems experienced with its new equipment: 'Further flying practice during the day. P.O. Parker and A.I. Operator Wilson in a Beaufighter baled out near Waddington due to engine failure of the aircraft thus causing the same to become uncontrollable. Fortunately the Pilot and A.I. Operator made safe landings and were unhurt. But the aircraft burst into flames on striking the ground and was utterly destroyed'.
By early 1941 Parker was flying regular Beaufighter anti-intruder patrols from Digby and on 12.2.1941 submitted a report confirming a contact with a Junkers 88 belonging to "Raid 87". 29 Squadron's Intelligence Officer (I.O.) afterwards reported:
'The Pilot of the Beaufighter [Parker] immediately climbed up towards the enemy. The Ju. 88 was travelling extremely fast with black smoke coming from the exhausts, and was then seen to dive down towards the clouds turning to port. At about 1,000 yards range the Pilot of the Beaufighter opened fire giving one short burst ...'
On 7.3.1941 the I.O. reported another rare contact, this time three to four miles off Donna Nook:
'One Beaufighter of 29 Squadron [Parker's] left Digby at 1447 hours to patrol Skegness - Mablethorpe below cloud. At about 1515 hours ... an enemy aircraft was observed at about the same height flying in an easterly direction. The Pilot of the Beaufighter identified the enemy aircraft as a Ju. 88. The Pilot of the Beaufighter at once turned slightly to port and when about 400 yards from the Ju. 88 in a position about 30 degrees off his starboard quarter, opened fire giving one short burst, followed by two more short bursts in quick succession, using slight deflection. During the first two bursts the Ju. 88 seemed unaware of the presence of the Beaufighter and continued straight on a straight and level course. Immediately after the second burst the Ju. 88 suddenly pulled sharply up into cloud, the Beaufighter followed and the third burst finished in cloud ...'
Tragically, however, on the night of 16/17.1.1943 Parker, then a Squadron Leader with 61 Squadron (Lancasters), failed to return from a raid on the Alexander Platz Railway Station, Berlin. He is buried in the Charlottenburg War Cemetery, Berlin.
E.G.M. London Gazette 6.8.1940 'On the night of June 8th 1940, this officer was First Pilot of an aircraft detailed for bombing operations. Just after taking off in complete darkness, the port engine failed. Displaying great coolness, Pilot Officer Parker raised the undercarriage and tried to fly straight on, but found that he could neither gain height nor speed with his heavily loaded aircraft on only one engine. Reducing speed to 80 m.p.h., he switched off his engine and "felt" the aircraft into the nearest field, in complete darkness. The aircraft crashed, however, and immediately burst into flames. Pilot Officer Parker jumped out and got clear to find that his Navigator and Air-Gunner were safe but the Warrant Officer was lying stunned near the burning aircraft. With complete disregard for his own safety, and knowing that there were four 500lb bombs in the wreckage which might explode at any moment, he returned and carried out his Warrant Officer to a place of safety. During this act, one of the bombs exploded and Pilot Officer Parker saved the airman from further injury by throwing him to the ground. This Officer showed exceptional coolness, resourcefulness, and courage throughout and, in the face of extreme danger, undoubtedly saved the life of his Warrant Officer'.
D.F.C. London Gazette 22.11.1940. Recommendation states 'Pilot Officer Parker, who is a Volunteer Reserve Officer, has carried out a total of 43 operational flights against the enemy during the course of which he has completed 250 hours flying. His work throughout has been of the very highest order. He has carried out numerous mining operations, bombing attacks, both low and high level, on all of which he has shown consistent courage, resourcefulness and devotion to duty. On the night of 4/5 September 1940, he was detailed to lead an attack on the oil refineries near Stettin. He proceeded ahead of the main attack, and located and bombed his target successfully from a low altitude, starting fires which enabled other aircraft to locate and attack the same target without difficulty. Pilot Officer Parker's careful planning, skill and determination in all of these operations have been of the very highest order and he has at all times set an excellent example to younger officers'.
Squadron Leader Edward Donald Parker, G.C., D.F.C., was born in 1910 at Westbridgeford, Nottingham. By 1940, having been commissioned into the R.A.F.V.R. and having qualified as a Navigator - he would later become a Pilot - Parker was operating out of Scampton with No. 49 Squadron, the unit's principal duties being mining operations, leaflet drops, reconnaissance work and bombing sorties.
On 18.1.1940, as part of a Hampden crew, he experienced numerous difficulties during a "Nickel" raid on Brunswick. The heating system failed on take off and later the intercom went on the blink. Later still, with the temperature down to -33 degrees C, the Wireless Operator became unconscious through cold and fell off his seat jamming shut the rear bulk head door. At length, the Observer, by 'howling' into the intercom, managed to inform the Captain of the Wireless Operator's predicament, and Parker, with great difficulty 'through having no oxygen', went aft to render aid. After 15 minutes work he brought the Wireless Operator, L.A.C. Dutton, round, before undertaking the task of emptying four bags of "Nickels" over the target, a job which was 'very exhausting'.
In April 1940 he flew on a mining mission but owing to various difficulties his Hampden did not plant its "melon", and instead made an impromptu but thorough Recce of a German airfield, joining in the circuit of two German aeroplanes and flying four times round the aerodrome unchallenged. By May 1940 Parker was flying in the driving seat as Captain of Aircraft and thereafter took part in regular war operations against a variety of targets including marshalling yards and factories and on one occasion the Tirpitz. On 8 June he performed his heroic Edward Gallantry Medal deed on crashing near Scampton, and a month later he received the last E.G.M. awarded to a member of the Royal Air Force at an Investiture held at Buckingham Palace on 3.9.1940. Following the exchange of the E.G.M. for the George Cross, Parker returned to Buckingham Palace to receive the latter decoration on 23.9.1941.
Having completed a full tour with 49 Squadron in 1940, Parker was posted into 29 Squadron, a Blenheim unit in the process of converting to Beaufighters. On 15.11.1940 he flew as 2nd Pilot in Blenheim L1303 on an air test to one of the great names of the war - Guy Gibson. On 28.11.1940 29 Squadron's Operational Record Book records Parker's involvement in the teething problems experienced with its new equipment: 'Further flying practice during the day. P.O. Parker and A.I. Operator Wilson in a Beaufighter baled out near Waddington due to engine failure of the aircraft thus causing the same to become uncontrollable. Fortunately the Pilot and A.I. Operator made safe landings and were unhurt. But the aircraft burst into flames on striking the ground and was utterly destroyed'.
By early 1941 Parker was flying regular Beaufighter anti-intruder patrols from Digby and on 12.2.1941 submitted a report confirming a contact with a Junkers 88 belonging to "Raid 87". 29 Squadron's Intelligence Officer (I.O.) afterwards reported:
'The Pilot of the Beaufighter [Parker] immediately climbed up towards the enemy. The Ju. 88 was travelling extremely fast with black smoke coming from the exhausts, and was then seen to dive down towards the clouds turning to port. At about 1,000 yards range the Pilot of the Beaufighter opened fire giving one short burst ...'
On 7.3.1941 the I.O. reported another rare contact, this time three to four miles off Donna Nook:
'One Beaufighter of 29 Squadron [Parker's] left Digby at 1447 hours to patrol Skegness - Mablethorpe below cloud. At about 1515 hours ... an enemy aircraft was observed at about the same height flying in an easterly direction. The Pilot of the Beaufighter identified the enemy aircraft as a Ju. 88. The Pilot of the Beaufighter at once turned slightly to port and when about 400 yards from the Ju. 88 in a position about 30 degrees off his starboard quarter, opened fire giving one short burst, followed by two more short bursts in quick succession, using slight deflection. During the first two bursts the Ju. 88 seemed unaware of the presence of the Beaufighter and continued straight on a straight and level course. Immediately after the second burst the Ju. 88 suddenly pulled sharply up into cloud, the Beaufighter followed and the third burst finished in cloud ...'
Tragically, however, on the night of 16/17.1.1943 Parker, then a Squadron Leader with 61 Squadron (Lancasters), failed to return from a raid on the Alexander Platz Railway Station, Berlin. He is buried in the Charlottenburg War Cemetery, Berlin.