The Airmen's Stories - F/O P T Parsons

Phillip Trevor Parsons, of Burwash, Sussex, was born in 1917, the son of S/Ldr. Walter William Parsons (1881-1963) and Madge Parsons (nee Gilderthorp) (1894-1969).

He attended Charterhouse School and then Downing College, Cambridge where he read Engineering.

Above: Parsons (centre) with his cousin Jack (L) and Aunt Eva (R)

Above: Parsons (centre) with his cousins Walter (L) and Jack (R)

Above images courtesy of Wendy Heather.

He joined 504 Squadron, Auxiliary Air Force in 1938 and was commissioned in October that year. Called to full-time service on 26th August 1939, he completed his training and rejoined 504 Squadron at Castletown in early July 1940.

504 Squadron Exeter 1941:

Standing:

Sgt. Boreham, P/O Lee, Sgt. D Haywood, F/O M Rook, P/O Hunt, F/O Salter, Sgt. Waud, Sgt. Nurse, Sgt. Lewis

Seated:

Sgt. Holmes, MO*, F/O B White, S/Ldr. J Sample, F/Lt. A Rook, F/Lt. PT Parsons, F/O Barnes, F/O Clennell (Adj.)

Unknown Unknown

*Medical Officer

On 15th September he claimed a Do17 destroyed and shared a He111.

On 2nd April 1941, still with 504 Squadron, he shot down a He111 of 7./KG55 into the sea 2 miles south of Budleigh Salterton, Devon.

In August 1941 he married Vera Blunt at Exeter Cathedral.

Parsons was killed on 2nd October 1942 as a Squadron Leader with 264 Squadron, aged 25.

Mosquito NFII DD639 flew into the ground and struck a hangar at Colerne. F/O PA Harding was also killed.

Parsons is buried in the churchyard of St John the Baptist, Colerne, Wiltshire.

He is also commemorated on the war memorials at Burwash, East Sussex, his parents' home (below).