Personnel Index - Detail

Name
PARKER
First Names
Richard Cecil
Rank
F/O
Service
RAF
Service Number
74687
Crew Position
Pilot
PoW Camp(s)
-
Age
21
Date of Death
17/10/1940
Cemetery

 

Photographed by Malcolm Brooke

Image courtesy of John Croxford

In the Ramsden Village Hall there is a memorial plaque that includes the name of Richard Cecil Parker.
This photograph was taken by village resident John Croxford whose father, coincidentally, was a post war member of 49Sqn.
 

16/17 October, 1940; BORDEAUX:

At 16.00hrs on the afternoon of Wednesday 16th, orders were received detailing 12 aircraft for bombing and gardening; the main target being the submarines at Bordeaux. Take-off began at 19.00hrs at 5 minute intervals until all 12 were airborne. Bad weather was to play a significant part in the night’s proceedings, especially when the aircraft returned. Four crews managed to complete successful sorties, despite some considerable resistance.
Another tragedy occurred near Andover in Hampshire, where desperately short of fuel, F/O Charles Pitman (aged 30) and crew, F/O R.C. Parker, Sgt J. Brown and Sgt P. Flanagan in Hampden P2143 crashed and were sadly all killed.
 

Hampden P2143
F/O C.D. Pitman Pilot (Killed)
F/O R.C. Parker Pilot (Killed)
Sgt J. Brown W/OP (Killed)
Sgt P. Flanagan W/AG (Killed)