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424508 (underlined) Pilot Officer George Trevor PARKER
Widow: (underlined) Mrs. J.E.A. Blackmore, of Mt. Eden, Auckland.
Mother: (underlined) Mrs. M. Parker of Epsom, Auckland.

George Parker was born at Auckland on 25th June, 1915 and received his secondary education at the Auckland Grammar School. From the time of leaving school in 1931, until applying for enlistment in aircrew, on 13th November, 1940 he was employed in the mercery department of Randalls Ltd., of Auckland. He also acted as leader of a dance band.

Pilot Officer Parker was enlisted at the Initial Training Wing, Rotorua on 2nd May 1942 and posted to New Plymouth on May, 1942. and carried out his elementary training in flying there. He then proceeded on 15th October to No. 1 Service Flying Training School, Wigram where he was awarded the flying badge on 29th December and promoted to the rank of Sergeant on 6th March 1943. Later, while serving in the Pacific, he was promoted to Flight Sergeant on 6th September, 1943 and commissioned in the rank of Pilot Officer on 1st July, 1944. Meantime, on 23rd March, 1943 he had been posted to Whenuapai for embarkation overseas to No. 4 Squadron at Fiji. He joined No. 9 Squadron at Emirau Island on 7th July, and No. 3 Squadron at Guadalcanal on 25th August. He again moved with the squadron to Emirau before returning to New Zealand on 6th December. After leave a period of leave he was posted to New Plymouth on 21st January, 1944 for his rest period, and served there and at Ohakea before embarking again for overseas on 15th August, with No. 1 Squadron at Guadalcanal.

Pilot Officer Parker was the pilot of a Ventura aircraft engaged on 5th October, 1944 in a submarine bombing exercise which crashed into the sea off a reef on the North Coast of OLERUGA Island north of Florida. Pilot Officer Parker was classified as missing. The body of one member of the crew was recovered but there was no trace of Pilot Officer Parker, and in due course his death was officially presumed to have occurred at sea without trace on 5th October, 1944.

Find a Grave link with a photo of Pilot Officer Parker: https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/249417574/george_trevor-parker

5/2/6920 AS2
No Log Book.

Mrs. J.E.A. Blackmore (W) (right aligned)
19 Grange Rd., Mt. Eden, (right aligned)
AUCKLAND. (right aligned)