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Parry, Owen Arthur

Date of birth:
May 23rd, 1922 (Middleton, Lancashire)
Date of death:
April 19th, 2016
Service number:
1451531 (NCO)/134138 (Officer)
Nationality:
British

Biography

Owen Parry enlisted in the RAF in October 1941. After qualifying as a fighter pilot he was commissioned and sent to India, where he joined No 11 Squadron.
He flew close support operations during the battles around Kohima and Imphal in 1944 and completed 175 missions during the later fighting in Burma.
After this arduous time he served on the air staff at HQ South East Asia Command (SEAC). After being released in October 1946 he immediately joined the RAF Volunteer Reserve. In 1951, during the Korean crisis, he transferred to the Royal Auxiliary Air Force and joined No 611 (West Lancashire) Squadron to fly the Meteor jet fighter from RAF Hooton Park on the Wirral.
He remained with No 611 until it was disbanded in 1957. In the meantime, Parry became the deputy squadron commander and in 1956 was awarded a trophy as the pilot contributing the most to the squadron’s efficiency. He transferred as a captain to the TA, serving with a Royal Signals unit for some years.
After the war, he had trained as a trading standards officer, and he eventually became head of Trading Standards for East Sussex. A Francophile, he holidayed in France.

Promotions:
? Leading Aircraft Man
6 november 1942: Pilot Officer on Probation (emergency)
?
12 april 1951: Appointment to commission as Flight Lieutenant As Flying Officer (five years and five years on the reserve )in the RAAF
1 februari 1958: Captain TA (late RAAF)
29 juli 1959: appointment as Flying Officer (four years) in the Training Branch RAFVR

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Period:
Second World War (1939-1945)
Rank:
Flying Officer
Unit:
No. 11 Squadron, Royal Air Force
Awarded on:
April 3rd, 1945
Citation:
"Flying Officer Parry has completed a tour of operational duty throughout which he has displayed great skill and courage. He has led hid flight and, at times his squadron, with great coolness and efficiency and has inflicted considerable damage on enemy vehicles and supplies. Both in the air and on the ground this officer has set an excellent example. He has materially contributed to the many successes achieved by his squadron."

Distinguished Flying Cross (DFC)

Sources

Photo