World War II Honoree

Donald K. Parker

Branch of Service

U.S. Army Air Force

Hometown

Albion, Indiana

Honored By

Sam E. Pennartz

ENLISTED AS A PRIVATE IN THE ARMY AIR CORPS ON 11 JULY 1941 AT FORT BENJAMIN HARRISON NEAR INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA. SELECTED FOR AVIATION CADET TRAINING, HE GRADUATED FROM NAVIGATOR SCHOOL AT SELMAN FIELD, LOUISIANA AND WAS COMMISSIONED A 2ND LIEUTENANT. UNDERWENT B-29 AIRCRAFT TRANSITION AND OPERATIONAL COMBAT CREW TRAINING AT SMOKY HILL ARMY AIR FIELD NEAR SALINA, KANSAS. DEPLOYED TO THE CENTRAL PACIFIC THEATRE OF OPERATIONS AND WAS ASSIGNED TO 20TH AIR FORCE, XXI BOMBER COMMAND, 73RD BOMB WING, 499TH BOMBARDMENT GROUP, 877TH BOMB SQUADRON STATIONED AT ISLEY FIELD ON SAIPAN IN THE MARIANA ISLANDS. ON 19-20 JULY 1945, HE FLEW AS THE RADAR NAVIGATOR ABOARD A BOEING B-29 SUPERFORTRESS, TAIL CODE V-SQUARE-11 (SERIAL #44-87652). IT WAS ONE OF 130 AIRCRAFT LAUNCHED TO BOMBARD THE URBAN AREA OF HITACHI, JAPAN. THE MISSION WAS FLOWN IN DARKNESS, AND NOT IN FORMATION. FLAK FROM ANTI-AIRCRAFT ARTILLERY WAS DESCRIBED AS MODERATE, AND ONLY ONE ENEMY AIRCRAFT WAS REPORTED BY THE GROUP. HIS AIRCRAFT WAS LAST SEEN AT TAKE-OFF AND NEVER RETURNED TO SAIPAN. NO RADIO OR VISUAL CONTACT WAS ESTABLISHED AFTER DEPARTURE FROM ISLEY.