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NZ414331 Pilot Officer Howard Russell PARKER.
WIDOW: Mrs. O.T. Harrison of Auckland (Re-married)
FATHER: Mr. T.F. Parker of CHRISTCHURCH.

Howard Parker was born on the 2nd May, 1918 at Burnham, and received his secondary education at the Christchurch Technical College, passing the Senior Free Place examination. He played Rugby, Hockey, Tennis, and took part in swimming. His civilian occupation was that of Motor Mechanic, and at the time of application for aircrew training, he was employed by Dominion Motors Ltd., at Christchurch.

Pilot Officer Parker was enlisted at Initial Training Wing, Levin on the 27th July, 1941 and on completion of his Ground Training Course, proceeded to No. 1 Elementary Flying Training School, Taieri to commence his flying training then to No. 1 Flying Training School, Wigram on the 18th October. While at this Unit he was awarded the Flying Badge on the 5th December, and promoted to Sergeant on the 10th January, 1942, being commissioned in the rank of Pilot Officer on the 10th November 1942 while serving overseas. Meanwhile he had embarked for the United Kingdom on the 30th January 1942.

Shortly after arrival in Pilot Officer Parker proceeded to No. 3 Personnel Reception Centre, Bournemouth on the 14th March, 1942 and remained there until the 29th April when he was posted to No. 17 (Pilots) Advanced Flying Unit, Watton, Norfolk. His next posting was to No. 56 Operational Training Unit, Tealing, Dundee Angus, on the 26th May, where he completed his training on Master and Hurricane aircraft. Pilot Officer Parker commmenced his operational flying on the 25th August, as a member of No. 610 Squadron, first at Ludham, Chester and subsequently at Castletown, Caithness, and West Hampnett, in Sussex. With this Squadron he carried out ten sorties as pilot of a spitfire fighter aircraft including convoy patrols (5) and dawn and dusk patrols.

On the 6th February 1943, Pilot Officer Parker was the pilot of a Spitfire aircraft taking part in air operations over ground targets in France, and failed to return to his base. The aircraft was last seen twenty miles north of Cherbourg, and, after an unsuccessful search, Pilot Officer Parker was classified as missing. In due course his death was officially presumed to have occurred on the 6th February 1943.

A post war casualty report revealed that no subsequent information has been received concerning Pilot Officer Parker.

Auckland Museum link with a photo of Pilot Officer Parker: https://www.aucklandmuseum.com/war-memorial/online-cenotaph/record/C30590

5/3/3357 AS2
354 hours as Pilot

Mrs. O.T. Harrison (Widow) (Re-married) (right aligned)
2 Lancing Road (right aligned)
Sandringham, (right aligned)
AUCKLAND (right aligned)