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Submit- Full
name
PARKER, James Earl - Date of
birth
26 December 1919 -
Age
24 - Place of
birth
Oates, Reynolds County, Missouri -
Hometown
Reynolds County, Missouri
Personal info
Military service
- Service
number
37402639 -
Rank
Staff Sergeant -
Function
Right Waist Gunner -
Unit
728th Bombardment Squadron,
452nd Bombardment Group, Heavy
-
Awards
Purple Heart,
Air Medal
Death
-
Status
Killed in Action - Date of
death
9 April 1944 - Place of
death
Near Meltofte, Denmark
Grave
-
Cemetery
American War Cemetery Ardennes
| Plot | Row | Grave |
|---|---|---|
| B | 39 | 25 |
Immediate family
-
Members
James M. Parker (father)
Myrtle E. Parker (mother)
Muriel Parker (sister)
Lowell E. Parker (brother)
Ruby Parker (sister)
Wilbur R. Parker (brother)
Billy D. Parker (brother)
Norma N. (Hunter) Parker (wife)
Plane data
- Serial
number
42-39936 -
Data
Type: B-17G
Nickname: Cawn't Miss
Destination: Posen, Poland
Mission: Bombing
MACR: 3662
More information
While on the return flight from Warnemünde the formation was attacked by approximately 12 FW 190 and "Cawn't Miss" was hit. Both inner engines were set on fire and the crew started to leave the aircraft by parachute.The intercom had been damaged and Tail gunner S/Sgt Oather G. Meese only became aware the crew were bailing out when he saw a person come by the tail. Meese looked up in the waist and saw RH Waist gunner S/Sgt James E. Parker leave while LH Waist gunner S/Sgt Raymond E. Raley was lying dead on the catwalk. Meese then went forward where he met Ball turret gunner S/Sgt Bernard H. Brand and Radio operator S/Sgt Tomothy J. Nunan. They helped each other put on seat dinghy's and baled out. All three of them landed on the island of Lolland. The aircraft crashed near Meltofte on Lolland at 14:00 hours.
Right waist gunner S/Sgt James E. Parker was washed ashore near Dannemare on 25/6. He was laid to rest in Dannemare cemetery on 28/6-1944.
Source of information: Peter Schouteten, Terry Hirsch, www.wwiimemorial.com, www.archives.gov, www.flensted.eu.com/1944032.shtml, WWII Draft Card, 1930 US Census
Photo source: www.findagrave.com