WORLD WAR II MEMORIAL - Lieut. William H. Parker

 

Lieutenant William Henry Parker

Although born in Tuscola County, Michigan, William Parker grew up in Defiance at 905 Latty Street with his parents, Fred Eugene and Eleanor Josephine (Hall) Parker

He was one of five children that included sisters - Patricia (m. Speiser) and Lettie Jean (m. Hale) and brothers, James E and Fred E.  Family and friends called him "Bud."

His ambition was to be a pilot when the war came. In May 1942, his parents traveled to Columbus, Mississippi, to attend his graduation services from flight school and his commission as a Second Lieutenant. He was then sent to Tampa, Florida for instructions in flying a four engine Flying Fortress (the B-17)

Draft registration card

"Lt. Wm Parker Pilot of Bomber Over Home City

Lieut. William H. Parker, son of Mr. and Mrs. F. E. Parker, 905 Latty Street was co-pilot of one of the three four-motored Flying Fortresses which circled Defiance at 8:45 a.m. today.

The planes came from Sarasota, Fla. and landed for about an hour in Cleveland on a routine flight, according to Lieut. Parker who called his parents by telephone from Cleveland.

The planes came over Defiance from the southwest, flew north of the city, circled around and then recrossed the downtown area headed east.

Parker received his primary training at Decatur, Ala., basic at Greenville, Mississippi, and was commissioned following advanced training at Columbus, Miss."

Crescent-News, June 3, 1942, p.1

Parker was sent over to the European Theater as a pilot on a B-17F, Flying Fortress.

He was part of the 8th Air Force, 367th Bomber Squadron, 306th Bomber Group, Heavy. The B-17 was the workhorse bomber in Europe - fast, high flying with great distance and covered with heavy defensive armament.  One source said they dropped more bombs than any other bomber in World War II.

While flying a mission near Antwerp, Belgium to bomb the Eria Works, an enemy factory, on April 5, 1943, a German fighter shot down the bomber piloted by Captain Parker. Nine of the crew were killed and three bailed out, including Captain Parker. Two of the three landed safely, but Captain Parker's parachute failed to open, and he was killed.

It took a while for the news to get to Defiance. On April 27th, the newspaper reported that Parker had been awarded an oak cluster for his air medals. A Napoleon newspaper reported that the parents had received news that he was missing in action, but Mrs. Parker said, "No such word had reached them." But it was true; the message came to Mr. Parker that Bud was missing in action, but he chose to keep it a secret from everyone as to not upset the family. Eventually, it was confirmed that their son was killed in action.

His obituary appeared in the Crescent-News on May 13, 1943 on page 1:

"DEFIANCE PILOT KILLED IN ATTACK IN EUROPE

Lieut. William H. Parker, 23, son of Mr. and Mrs. Fred E. Parker, 905 Latty Street, was killed in action April 5 when his B-17 bomber crashed while on a bombing raid over Europe, his father related today.

Mr. Parker said he received a message from the International Red Cross at Berlin, Germany, advising him of the death of his son.

He also had received a letter from Lieut. Parker's buddy, Lieut. Reecher, who said the tail gunner on the plane piloted by Reecher had seen Parker's ship crippled, apparently by anti-aircraft 'flak,' but that the plane was still in control when  last seen. Lieut. Parker and Lieut Reecher had been buddies in training school and had been flying from the same base in England, Mr. Parker said.

A letter received Wednesday at the Parker home contained a message of condolence from Gen. George C. Marshall, U.S. Army Chief of Staff, Mr. Parker added.

In England Since August,

Lieut. Parker, known among his friends as 'Bud,' received his primary flight training at Decatur Ala. late in 1941 and his basic training at Greenville, Miss. during early months of 1942. On March 15, 1942, he was sent to Army Flying School at Columbus, Miss., where he received his commission on April 29, 1942.

He was transferred east shortly after that, flying over Defiance in a formation of three bombers last spring. He had been in England since last August and had participated in the round the clock bombings of Germany and the German submarine bases at St. Nazaire and Lorient, according to his father.

Listed Missing in April

Mr. Parker said he had received first notice of his son being missing last April 12 but had denied published reports to keep his family from worrying.

In addition to his parents, Lieut. Parker is survived by two brothers, James, Wayne Avenue, and Freddie, at home; and two sisters, Mrs. James Speiser, Tiffin, and Lettie, at home."

Lieutenant William Henry Parker was buried in the Netherlands American Cemetery, Margraten, Netherlands as a Captain in the U.S. Army Air Force. 

In 1948, Miss Len Kesler of Zeist, Holland came to America to visit William's mother, now Mrs. John Dolan of Defiance. (William's father died in 1944, and his mother remarried.) Miss Kesler had been corresponding with Mrs. Dolan after Kesler adopted the grave of Capt. Wm. Parker in the Netherlands. Miss Kesler makes sure that flowers are placed on the grave, and it is visited.

A memorial stone was also placed in Riverside Cemetery, Defiance.

Riverside Cemetery  

Dianne Kline, Researcher

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