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Paul Johnson, Tommy & Al Fleming in back with Buck McNair & Johnny Johnson in front. McNair still showing the burns on his face from flying a flaming Spit, 29 July 1943. Tommy circled above him in The Channel till his fuel was all but exhausted & proved vital to Buck's rescue
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200 RCAF Men Commissioned for Efficiency
Ottawa, March 10, 1943 – (CP) – Air Force headquarters today announced that more than 200 members of the RCAF aircrew serving overseas, all graduates of the combined (air) training organization, have been commissioned in the field for efficiency, meritorious service and the display of qualities of leadership. Those commissioned include – from Ontario:
Sgt. Stuart Allan Corbett, Alton
F/Sgt. Thurne Parks, Oshawa
Sgt. John Wilbert Edmund Harten, Sault Ste. Marie |
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Born 15 July 1921 in Oshawa, Ontario
Enlisted in Toronto, 8 November 1940
Trained at
No.3 ITS (graduated 22 April 1941)
No.10 EFTS (graduated 9 June 1941) &
No.6 SFTS (graduated 20 August 1941)
Graduating as a Sergeant
Posted overseas, 7 September 1941
He led a revolt against the ship's crew
in protest of the "unfavorable" food.
He was busted down to Corporal
Attended OTU & assigned
To 504 Squadron as a Cpl/Pilot ! but
Quickly being promoted back to Sergeant
Posted to Malta in May 1942
Part of Operation Bowery
Flying off the USS Wasp, early May 9
Posted to
126 Squadron initially, then to
249 Squadron in June
Departing Malta, 13 August 1942
[see note at bottom of page]
Commissioned 17 December 1942
He instructed at No.53 OTU then was
Posted to 416 Squadron
Then to 421 Squadron as F/O
Sent back to Canada due to "exhaustion"
(DHIst file 181.009 D.1719, PAC RG.24 Vol.20606)
Repatriated 3 February 1944
To
No.1 OTU, Bagotville, 10 April 1944
No.1 Flying Instructor School, 24 April 1944
No.164 (Transport) Squadron, 7 November 1944
No.1 Training Command, 20 January 1945
Station Moncton, 1 April 1945
Released from the RCAF 4 July 1945 |
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PARKS, F/O Thurne (J16546) - Mention in Despatches - No.421 Squadron
Award effective 14 January 1944 as per London Gazette of that date &
AFRO 874/44 dated 21 April 1944.
No Citation
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Victories Include :
17 May 1942
30 May 1942
2 July 1942
7 July 1942
11 July 1942
28 July 1942 |
one Do24
one Z1007
one Me109*
one Me109
one Ju88
one Me109
one Me109 |
destroyed
damaged
destroyed
damaged
damaged
damaged
probable |
126 Sqn. Malta
126 Sqn. Malta
249 Sqn. Malta
249 Sqn. Malta
249 Sqn. Malta
249 Sqn. Malta
249 Sqn. Malta |
2 / 1 / 4
* Claimed an MC202
(Score from Shores - Those Other Eagles)
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DHH files (via Halliday) show score as follows:
17 May 1942
30 May 1942 *
2 July 1942
7 July 1942
11 July 1942
28 July 1942 |
one Do24
one Z1007
one Me109
one Me109
one Ju88
one Me109
one Me109 |
damaged
damaged
destroyed
damaged
destroyed
probable
probable |
126 Sqn. Malta
126 Sqn. Malta
249 Sqn. Malta
249 Sqn. Malta
249 Sqn. Malta**
249 Sqn. Malta
249 Sqn. Malta |
2 / 2 / 3
* Or 9 June
** Tail blown off by friendly Flak, he baled out successfully
13 August 1942 - He baled out again (BR246), this time being downed by the Flak gunners of a friendy ship he was trying to protect during Operation Pedestal. He was picked up by a Destroyer, slightly wounded, & set ashore at Gibralter not knowing he had been reported missing. He was returned to the UK. |
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