PARKER, F/L Louis Holmes (J10987) - Distinguished Flying Cross - No.175 Squadron - Award effective 27 April 1945 as per London Gazette dated 8 May 1945 and AFRO 966/45 dated 8 June 1945. Born 19 May 1921 in Oldham, Lancs. (MI.9 report), home in Toronto where he was educated (and was in Cadet Corpsd, Jarvis Collegiate) and by turns a student or landscaper. He eventually became a clerk with the federal government (ten months), Passport Officer with Department of External Affairs (July 1940 to January 1941) and Customs Officer with Department of National Revenue (January to June 1941). Enlisted in Toronto, 2 June 1941 and posted to No.4A Manning Depot, Montreal. To No.12 Equipment Depot, Montreal, 16 July 1941. To No.3 ITS, Victoriaville, 21 August 1941; graduated and promoted LAC, 24 September 1941; to No.4 EFTS, Windsor Mills, 25 September 1941; struck off strength there, 21 November 1941; taken on strength of No.9 SFTS, Summerside, 22 November 1941; graduated and promoted Sergeant, 10 April 1942; subsequently commissioned with effect from that date. Struck off strength of No.9 SFTS, 18 April 1942 and posted to Rockcliffe (19 April to 3 June 1942). Served with No.132 Squadron (Sea Island, Patricia Bay, Tofino and Boundary Bay), 4 June 1942 to 7 September 1943. To ?Y? Depot for embarkation, 8 September 1943. Promoted Flying Officer, 10 October 1942. Embarked from New York, 12 October 1943. Arrived in United Kingdom, 19 October 1943. To No.59 OTU, 30 November 1943, staying there to 24 January 1944. Further trained at No.61 OTU (Redhill), 24 January to 13 April 1944. Promoted Flight Lieutenant, 10 April 1944. At No.3 TEU (Honiley), 13 April to 7 July 1944. To No.83 Group Support Unit, 7 July 1944. To No.184 Squadron, 5 August 1944. Missing, 7 August 1944; reported safe 15 August 1944. Returned to No.184 Squadron, 2 September 1944, remaining with them to 10 January 1945. Posted on 10 January 1945 to No.175 Squadron. Killed on SW475 (Typhoon), 13 April 1945. Medal presented by Governor General to next of kin, 2 December 1946. Throughout numerous missions Flight Lieutenant Parker has displayed outstanding skill and determination and has inflicted much damage on the enemy\'s railway engines, rolling stock, road vehicles, barges and industrial targets. His outstanding leadership combined with his accuracy have materially contributed to the excellent results obtained. Public Record Office Air 2/9078 has recommendation drafted 14 February 1945 when he had flown 57 sorties (50 hours) on operations - unusually low figures. Described as ?O.C., ?A? Flight?. This officer has always shown outstanding skill and determination in his rocket attacks, and since he has been leading, every sortie had outstanding results including many railway engines and rolling stock, road vehicles, barges and factories damaged and destroyed, largely owing to his skill and leadership. Targets attacked include 16 on troops, 15 on trains, eleven on M.T., tanks and barges. His Commanding Officer then added the following comment: This officer?s leadership and accuracy of attacks have contributed directly to the results achieved, and are an example of determination to all other pilots. On 19 February 1945, Group Captain Gordon Jones noted: An outstanding ground attack, whose sorties always produce good results in spite of adverse conditions. His skill, determination and desire to seek and destroy the enemy are an example to all. Further endorsed on 23 February 1945 by an Air Vice-Marshal (signature illegible): This officer has given great service as a fighter-bomber pilot, leading many sorties in the face of intense anti-aircraft opposition. Strongly recommend him for the non-immediate award of the DFC. Further endorsed on 4 April 1945 by Air Marshal Coningham. NOTE: No.175 Squadron ORB entries shed further light on his career: 3 January 1945 - J10987 F/L L.H. Parker joins No.175 from No.184 to be \"A\" Flight Commander. He subsequently leads many operations. Other RCAF pilots in unit include F/O J.D. Wood, F/O B.F.L. Thirwall. 20 January 1945 - typical entry when nine aircraft led by Parker, 1145-1225; all returned OK: Attacked six 88 guns at K.8680 Uphoven. Cannon and RP hits in target area. Heavy flak from guns. F/O Worsley and P/O Speedie hit by shrapnel. Parker not on operations, 23 February to 10 March 1945 (leave in UK). 19 March 1945 - another trip led by Parker attacked marshalling yard at Drensteinfurt (Munster-Hamm line). Concentrated light flak from target. Three direct hits and cannon strikes all down row of about 75-plus TRG. S/L [M.] Savavage (supernumerary) did not return. Believed to have crashed and been killed during attack. Scattered heavy flak over whole area. 28 March 1945 - Parker led four aircraft, 1300-1400: Cab rank. Directed by F.C.P. to attack transport N. and E. of road running E. from Bocholt A.2261. Red smoke was laid as bomb line. Destroyed five transport and damaged three. Intense light flak encountered. 12 April 1945 - Parker led eight aircraft, 1425-1540, in Solteau area; attacked a tank - RP strikes seen - also attacked village of Minern. Some light flak. 13 April 1945 - Parker led seven aircraft to attack a Tiger tank. Visibility bad, ceiling low, target not located. Attacked light flak and mortar positions instead. RP strikes observed, light flak from nearby woods. Form 540 says: F/L L.H. Parker (Can RCAF J.10987) was seen to be on fire in the dive by his No.2 (F/L C.I. Mallot). It appears that a sheet of flame came out of the port wing when the first pair of RP was fired; this fire went out. However, when the second pair of RP was fired, the fire started again and this time persisted. F/L Parker pulled up to approximately 2,000 feet and rolled over on his back. The aircraft then dived straight into the ground at W9688. Nothing was seen to leave the aircraft. 9 May 1945 - Parker\'s DFC reported in ORB. DHH file 79/507 has his MI.9 report for evasion which commenced 7 August 1944 when he was with No.184 Squadron. Took off from B.5 Airfield, (Camilly), 1400 hours, and came down southeast of Mortain. I took off from B.5 airfield (T.8976) on 7 August around 1400 hours in a Typhoon. I was on an armed reconnaissance. I had just straffed a tank and was pulling away when I got hit by flak. The aircraft caught fire. I abandoned the aircraft from about 1,000 feet. I was fortunate in finding a small clearing in the woods T.6002 (250,000 3a T.8) to land on. My landing was a bit heavy and I injured my left ankle. I left my harness and parachute where I landed. I headed in a southerly direction for about a couple of hours through hilly and wooded country. Before I reached the road running from Le Teilleul (Y.6498) to Bunis (Y.5697). I noted several German lorries and soldiers were walking around the area too. I immediately back-tracked into the woods. This was around 2100 hours. I found myself a good hideout among the ferns and bushes and stayed there for the night. On the morning of the 8th I made my way down a valley. I was on the east side of it, to fill my water bottle. I continued on up the other side of the hill and found a large rock behind which I sat and watched the German movement in the camp below. I stayed the night in a crevice of the rock. On 9 August around 1100 hours I headed off in a southwesterly direction . I had hardly gone a few hundred yards down the slope when I heard Germans shouting to each other and moving around in a business-like manner. I made straight back to the rock. For the next few hours I stayed in my hole in the rock - later I ventured out and went towards the creek at the bottom of the hill. I was prevented from doing this owing to more German activity. I found a pool where I filled my water bottle. On returning to the rock I noticed more activity going on below and two soldiers immediately above the cave. When they disappeared I made for my original hiding place. On the morning of the 11th, while I was a little way away from the cave to get a little warmth, I noticed a German soldier idly surveying the countryside. As I was in dry brushwood and every move made a crackling noise I lay still; slowly he walked towards my position. Eventually he came up and stood by my side looking at me. I lay as still as a log. I managed to follow his movements with half an eye closed. Slowly he made off. I waited till he was out of sight. I gathered up my water bottle and revolver and made off to my hole in the rock. I made this my resting place for three more nights (August 14 morning) All three nights they bombed and straffed the woods near where I was; several fell uncomfortably near. On the morning of the 14th I made my way towards the German encampment. At first I skirted it. As I heard no movement I entered the wood where they had been. One tank had been destroyed, a few light vehicles were lying around. Several articles of clothing were also strewn around the place. The only Germans I saw were two dead ones beside the tank. I made my way towards the Le Teilleul - Bunis road. I waited until a jeep came along the road. I stepped out and put my hands up. The jeep stopped and picked me up, taking me back to my airfield by several different forms of transport. Assessments and Training: Training in Canada he had one accident - 23 March 1942, Harvard 2684, 0930 hours. Taxied into a parked Harvard (AN199). Report concluded, ?Lack of watchfulness on the part of pilot being charged with negligence.? On 18 December 1942, S/L G.J. Elliott (No.132 Squadron) wrote of Parker: ?A superior pilot. Though young, promises to be a good officer. Did excellent job as Station Motor Transport officer in opening of Tofino. Full of spirit, but dependable. Retention recommended. On 10 June 1943, S/L Elliott again wrote, ?Parker is an exceptional pilot.? Meanwhile, on 21 March 1943, Air Commodore E.L. McLeod (Air Officer Commanding, No.2 Group, Western Air Command) sent the following to the Commanding Officer, Tofino: A note has been received from the Commanding Officer of RCAF Station Patricia Bay, in which it was stated that F/O Parker gave very valuable information in regard to the position of Hurricane B5492 which crashed March 6th, 1943, after the pilot made a safe descent by parachute. It is requested that F/O Parker be interviewed and the commendation of the Commanding Officer, Patricia Bay, passed to him, together with mu own appreciation of his work. The report from No.59 OTU was not very detailed. He was assessed as follows: ?Average - posted to No.59 OTU for a 21 hour refresher course during which he completed all first and second phase exercises quite satisfactorily. Battle formations including cross over turns and turnabouts good.? No.61 OTU reported he had flown 20 minutes dual on Master, then went on to Spitfires (33 hours 50 minutes by day, three hours 25 minutes at night, of which 13 hours 20 minutes was formation flying). He also logged 11 hours in Link trainer. He fired 3,000 rounds air-to-air (5.4 percent hits), 3,400 rounds air-to-ground (12.3 percent hits), dropped 16 bombs (40 percent score) and exposed 143 feet of film in training. Assessed as ?Above average? and ?A good average pilot who with experience should make a good fighter. A good officer. Ground work good.? Particulars of going missing: On 7 August 1944 he was flying Typhoon MN718 of No.184 Squadron. Squadron Leader J.W.H. Wilson reported: I was leading Landlord Squadron to attack enemy tanks north of Mortain. The squadron was airborne at 1355 hours. F/L Parker was flying as my No.2. On reaching the target area I attacked a moving lorry at approximately 1415 hours and estimated position T.6115. On pulling up from this attack a small amlount of accurate light flak came up from just north of Mortain. Immediately afterwards I saw F/L Parker losing height in a southerly direction, his aircraft streaming Glycol and the propellor windmilling. I ordered him on the R/T to head north for our own lines. Approximately ten seconds later I saw a terrific sheet of flame on the ground at T.6013, which I estimate was his aircraft crashing. F/L I.C. Handyside, who was flying as Red One on this operation saw F/L Parker bale out and his parachute open before hitting the ground. On 13 April 1945 he was flying Typhoon SW475. The time and location of his loss is given as 1620 hours, enemy positions 12 miles southeast of Bremen - mortar and light flak positions near Volkensen. The following report was submitted by as Flight Lieutenant (name illegible): Flight Lieutenant Parker, Red One, attacked a mortar position in the Verden area. He peeled off from about 3,000 feet to the left and attacked in a 30 degree dive. On firing his first pair of rockets I noticed a streak of flame which appeared under his port wing. A long range tank had been fitted on the starboard wing. The flame disappeared and as he fired his second pair the flame recurred and kept on continuously. He pulled out of the dive and climbed steeply straight ahead. I then informed him he was on fire. He attained a height of 2,500 feet approximately, rolled on his back and the aircraft slowly dived into the ground in an inverted position where it burnt immediately. I did not see Flight Lieutenant Parker bale out, neither did I see a parachute descending. During the latter part of the aircraft?s descent I lost sight of it under my wing for about four seconds, thus I did not see the aircraft hit the ground. On 16 April 1945, Squadron Leader R.W. Campbell (Commanding Officer) write to Parker?s mother, saying in part: As you probably know, Lou came to my squadron as a Flight Commander at the beginning of the New Year and since then he had done invaluable work for the squadron, both in flying, in training new pilots, and in helping me with the running of the squadron.