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name
PARKS, David Paul - Date of
birth
3 December 1920 -
Age
23 - Place of
birth
Freedom, Beaver County, Pennsylvania -
Hometown
Freedom, Beaver County, Pennsylvania
Personal info
Military service
- Service
number
O-806324 -
Rank
First Lieutenant -
Function
Pilot -
Unit
749th Bombardment Squadron,
457th Bombardment Group, Heavy
-
Awards
Purple Heart,
Air Medal with Oak Leaf Cluster
Death
-
Status
Killed in Action - Date of
death
9 April 1944 - Place of
death
5 miles northeast of Schleswig, Germany
Grave
-
Cemetery
American War Cemetery Ardennes
| Plot | Row | Grave |
|---|---|---|
| C | 18 | 20 |
Immediate family
-
Members
Percy H. Parks (father)
Clara M. (Wahl) Parks (mother)
Theodore W. Parks (brother)
John C. Parks (brother)
Joseph A. Parks (brother)
Mary C. Parks (sister)
Martha J. Parks (sister)
Elizabeth A. (Mickey) Parks (wife)
Plane data
- Serial
number
42-31629 -
Data
Type: B-17G
Destination: Posen-Krzesiny, Poland
Mission: Bombing of the Focke-Wulf aviation industry
MACR: 3664
More information
1st Lt David P. Parks graduated from Penn State University in 1941.He received basic flight training as a aviation cadet at the Bainbridge Army Air Field in Georgia.
The aircraft was shot down by Fw190's. Three crew members were taken prisoner, seven were killed. They were initially buried at the Militär Friedhof at the Husumerstrasse in Schleswig.
On the fourth picture, Lt Parks poses with his wife. On the sixth picture, he is part of another crew. The actual crew of 9 April 1944 is shown on the last picture.
Source of information: Raf Dyckmans, Peter Schouteten, www.ancestry.com - Veteran Compensation Application File / Family Trees, www.americanairmuseum.com, www.newspapers.com - Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
Photo source: Jac Engels, Henri Hannon, Penn State University yearbook, 1941