The Airmen's Stories - Sgt. R J Parrott

Reginald James Parrott was born in West Ham, London on 24th February 1916, the son of Herbert James Parrott and Ethel Parrott.

He was empolyed as a Local Government clerk when he joined the RAFVR about June 1939 as an Airman u/t Pilot.

Called up on 1st September he completed his training and arrived at 6 OTU Sutton Bridge in early September 1940. After converting to Hurricanes, Parrott was posted to 32 Squadron at Acklington on 30th September and moved to 46 Squadron on 31st October.

In a joint interception with 257 Squadron on 11th November he shot a Fiat BR20 down into the sea.

On 5th May 1941 Parrott was killed in Hurricane I P3866 which was shot down by an intruder whilst landing at Duxford. It was claimed by Hans Hahn of 3./NJG 2 who operated in a night intruder role in a Ju88.

Parrott was 25 and is buried in the churchyard on St Mary and St Andrew, Whittlesford, Cambridgeshire.

The headstone also commemorates his parents, who were killed when a V2 rocket struck their home, 29 Abercorn Gardens in Chadwell Heath, on 14th January 1945. Their bodies were not recovered.