Memorial

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James Parker graduated from Bethel High School and was employed by the Crucible Steel Company.

He joined the Air Corps of the U.S. Army Reserve in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania on 1 March 1943.

2nd Lt James F. Parker Jr. was shot down over Germany, on 16 Sept 1944, while on his 18th mission.

Statement of Capt McCarthy, who flew in the same mission: "While leading the squadron against a target in western Germany, bad weather and instrument conditions were encountered. I put the flights astern and closed up the formations within flights, Lt Page was flying my wing in Red 2 position and Lt Parker was flying Blue 2. Red and Blue Flights were at least one half mile apart, so there seems no likelihood of a midair collision between Lt Parker and Lt Page. No word was heard from either pilot over the radio. Both were flying a good position when we entered the overcast, but when the squadron broke through Lt Parker and Lt Page were missing. It is my opinion that both tried to fly instruments rather than contact on the lead ships and thereby encountered difficulties. Neither pilot had much combat instrument time."

On 18 September 1944, a funeral mass was celebrated in the church of Grandménil, after which Parker was buried in the cemetery of this municipality. Later, he was reburied at Henri-Chapelle.

A memorial was erected on the site of the crash.