290

-2- (centre aligned)
of the course he proceeded to No. 487 (NZ) Squadron, Feltwell, Norfolk. With this Squadron he crewed up and as the Air Gunner of a Ventura Aircraft he participated in 8 operational flights including attacks on the following targets, Eindhoven and Ijmuiden in Holland, Abbeyville, Caen and Dunkirk in France, and an Air/Sea rescue flight. Early in March, 1943 he attended a course of a few days (redacted Aviation) duration at No. 1482 Bombing and Gunnery Flight, West Raynham, Norfolk, on conclusion of which he returned to No. 487 (NZ) Squadron at Feltwell. He resumed operational flying and carried out a further 8 operations against targets including Caen, Dieppe, St. Brieuc, Boulogne, and Cherbourg, in France, Rotterdam in Holland, Zeebrugge in Belgium and and Air/Sea rescue search. On the 28th August 1943 Flight Sergeant Parker was posted to No. 88 Squadron Swanton Morley, Norfolk and with this Squadron as the Air Gunner of Boston Aircraft he participated in a further 33 Operations, bringing his total number of operational flight to 49. These additional operational flights included the targets of Boulogne, Courtrai, Bernay, Audingham (3), St. Omer (2), Abbeville (2), Dieppe, Creil, Beavor, Charleroi (2), Le Pouy Ferme, Bois de Juistice, Elixecourt, Mezaden, Hambures Bois-de-Cocquerel, Caen, Marlemont, and Chateau and Halicourt, all in France and Ijmuiden in Holland.

Flight Sergeant Parker was the Air Gunner of a Boston bomber aircraft which took off on the 8th July 1944 and failed to return from harassing operations behind the Normandy Front, and all the crew, including Flight Sergeant Parker were classified as missing.

Later, information received through the International Red Cross Committee from a German source, revealed that Flight Sergeant Parker had lost his life and he was in consequence, reclassified as missing believed killed in action. Further information received from International Red Cross Committee advised that he was buried in the cemetery at Le Pertre approximately 12½ miles west, south west of Laval, France. Subsequently his death was officially presumed to have occurred on the 8th July, 1944.

5/15/781 AS.2.
369 hours as
AIR GUNNER. (underlined)

Mr. H.L. Parker (F) (right aligned)
104A Balmoral Road (right aligned)
Mt. Eden (right aligned)
AUCKLAND. (right aligned & underlined)