Thursday, 3 May 2012

News - RAF hero Edward Donald Parker's medals to be auctioned (West Bridgford)

Medals awarded to an RAF pilot from Nottingham who died during World War II are to be auctioned.


Sqn Ldr Edward Donald Parker, from West Bridgford, was given the George Cross and Distinguished Flying Cross for acts of gallantry during the conflict.

He won particular praise for saving the life of a fellow crewman after their bomber crashed in 1940.

His six medals are expected to fetch up to £30,000 when they go up for sale in Shrewsbury on 23 May.

Born in 1910, Sqn Ldr Parker completed dozens of operational flights against the Germans as part of the Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve (RAFVR).

Sqn Ldr Parker received his George Cross for saving the life of a fellow crew member after being forced to crash land a Hampden bomber carrying four 500lb bombs shortly after take-off from RAF Scampton in 1940.

Also in 1940, he was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross for completing 43 operational flights against the enemy.

He was killed in action flying a Lancaster bomber over Berlin in January 1943 and is buried in the city's 1939-1945 War Cemetery.

Derek Ainsworth, from auctioneers Halls, said the medals had featured in several auctions over the past few decades and were now being sold by a collector from Cheshire.

From: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-nottinghamshire-17922126

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