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411440 Pilot Officer Reginal Alfred Stewart PARKER
Mother Mrs. E.J. Parker of Wellington
Wife Mrs. D. Pope of Wellington

Reginald Parker was born at Christchurch on the 4th June, 1916. He received his secondary education at Wellington Technical College. He was a member of the First Soccer team at school and was a Wellington Secondary School's Representative in 1931. He also took part in cross country running, tennis and badminton. His civilian occupation was that of a Dental Technician he was so employed by the Wellington Hospital Board when making application in July, 1940 for war service in the Royal New Zealand Air Force.

Pilot Officer Parker was enlisted for aircrew training on the 2nd March, 1941 at the Initial Training Wing, Levin, and was posted on the 12th April to No. 1 Elementary Flying Training School, Taieri for his elementary flying training. He proceeded on the 14th June to No. 1 Service Flying Training School, Wigram and on the 26th July he was awarded the Flying Badge. On the 6th September 1941 he was commissioned in the rank of Pilot Officer and on the 23rd September he embarked for the United Kingdom.

Pilot Officer Parker arrived at No. 3 Personnel Reception Centre, Bournemouth on the 14th November 1941 and was posted on the 16th December to No. 1516 Beam Approach Training Flight Middleton-St-George, County Durham and thence on the 6th January 1942 to No. 16 Operational Training Unit, Upper Heyford, Oxfordshire, where he received his training on Hampden bomber aircraft.

Pilot Officer Parker was the pilot of a Hampden aircraft engaged on a training flight on the 13th March, 1942. The aircraft crashed in hazy weather near Midbury, Oxfordshire, Pilot Officer Parker losing his life. He was buried in the Cemetery at Upper Heyford.