John B Parker
Military2nd Lt. John Parker was born in 1917, and enlisted in the Army Air Corps in January of 1942. After training, he was assigned to the 306 Bomber Group, and was a Bombardier on several different crews. He became a Prisoner of War (POW). Shot down 17 April 1943 in B-17 42-29631 'Unmentionable'. Crashed at Wiesens, Germany after attacks by waves of German fighters while flying as part of the lead squadron targeting Bremen. Pilot Warren and TTG were killed, but other crew members survived and became Prisoner of War (POW)s. This mission was particularly hard on the 306th. He was a prisoner in Stalag Luft III, the camp of the "Great Escape". According to the McWright papers, Parker was assigned to the South Compound, Barracks 138, room 4. He arrived at Dulag Left 4/18, and left 4/24 arriving at Stalag Luft III on 4/26. His statement was that he was shot down by Flak and an ME 109 and FW190. He Bailed out, and landed 8 Km SW of Bremen, Germany, and then was captured immediately. 2nd Lt. Parker was liberated from Nuremburg Lang Wasser in May of 1945. Parker returned to the U.S., married and lived in Virginia the rest of his life. He died in 1981
Connections
See how this entry relates to other items in the archive by exploring the connections below.
Units served with
- Unit Hierarchy: Group
- Air Force: Eighth Air Force
- Type Category: Bombardment
- Unit Hierarchy: Squadron
- Air Force: Eighth Air Force
- Type Category: Bombardment
- Unit Hierarchy: Squadron
- Air Force: Eighth Air Force
- Type Category: Bombardment
People
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 306th Bomb Group 369th Bomb Squadron 423rd Bomb Squadron
- Highest Rank: Second Lieutenant
- Role/Job: Co-Pilot
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 447th Bomb Group 708th Bomb Squadron Headquarters (447th Bomb Group)
- Service Numbers: O-406173
- Highest Rank: Lieutenant Colonel
- Role/Job: Bombardier
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 306th Bomb Group 423rd Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: O-660919
- Highest Rank: Second Lieutenant
- Role/Job: Navigator
Aircraft
- Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
- Nicknames: Unmentionable
- Unit: 306th Bomb Group 423rd Bomb Squadron
Missions
- Date: 17 May 1943
Places
- Site type: Prisoner of war camp
- Known as: Stalag Luft III, Sagan, Germany
![A bomber crew of the 306th Bomb Group wave to Picture Post Girls in front of a B-17 Flying Fortress (serial number 41-24471) nicknamed "Four of a Kind" at Thurleigh in December 1942. Image stamped on reverse: '"Picture Post" [stamp], 'Passed for Publication 11 Dec 1942.' [stamp], '238038.' [Censor no.] Handwritten in censor's blue pencil on reverse: 'American Flying Fortress crew are introduced to the girls they will meet at Picture Post Xmas Party.'](https://assets.americanairmuseum.com/s3fs-public/styles/teaser_thumb_x2/public/freeman/media-379028.jpg.webp?itok=6Gc6iR0j)
- Site type: Airfield
- Known as: Bedford
Events
| Event | Location | Date | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Other Prisoner of war |
17 April 1943 | ||
|
Born |
Virginia | I’m trying to find out more information about my father, John Bell Parker, who was shot down over Germany and became a POW in Stlag Luft 111 until the war ended. Dad passed away 1/1/1981. I don’t have much information except he was a Lieutenant and Bombardier. I have a letter he wrote to his parents after he took a bus from the east coast to Santa Ana, CA dated June, 1942 with the heading US Army Air Corps, Maxwell Field, Ala. He wrote his new address was: Sqdn. 15 A.F.R.T.C. Santa Ana, Ca I searched your data base but came up empty. Any information you can send me is most appreciated. Thank you, Becca Parker Beitel |
Revisions
I’m trying to find out more information about my father, John Bell Parker, who was shot down over Germany and became a POW in Stlag Luft 111 until the war ended. Dad passed away 1/1/1981.
I don’t have much information except he was a Lieutenant and Bombardier. I have a letter he wrote to his parents after he took a bus from the east coast to Santa Ana, CA dated June, 1942 with the heading US Army Air Corps, Maxwell Field, Ala.
He wrote his new address was: Sqdn. 15 A.F.R.T.C. Santa Ana, Ca
I searched your data base but came up empty. Any information you can send me is most appreciated.
Thank you,
Becca Parker Beitel
I’m trying to find out more information about my father, John Bell Parker, who was shot down over Germany and became a POW in Stlag Luft 111 until the war ended. Dad passed away 1/1/1981.
I don’t have much information except he was a Lieutenant and Bombardier. I have a letter he wrote to his parents after he took a bus from the east coast to Santa Ana, CA dated June, 1942 with the heading US Army Air Corps, Maxwell Field, Ala.
He wrote his new address was: Sqdn. 15 A.F.R.T.C. Santa Ana, Ca
I searched your data base but came up empty. Any information you can send me is most appreciated.
Thank you,
Becca Parker Beitel
Courtesy of Michael P. Faley-100th BG Historian
Flagged as a "Possible DUPLICATE" in the Nickname field so an Admin can check out this person.
Added a "-" to the A/C serial number in the "Summary biography" to aid clarity & consistency.
MACR 15444, Losses of the 8th and 9th Air Forces Volume I by Bishop and Hey p. 46, 107, Fame's Favored Few p. 90, NARA POW, First Over Germany pg. 90 / Drawn from the records of the National Museum of the Mighty Eighth Air Force, Savannah, Georgia