Orders, Decorations and Medals

A Hurricane pilot’s ‘Burma’ D.F.C. group of six awarded to Flight Lieutenant O. A. Parry, Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve, No. 11 Squadron

Distinguished Flying Cross, G.VI.R., the reverse dated 1945; 1939-45 Star; Burma Star; Defence & War Medals; Air Efficiency Award, E.II.R., 2nd issue (Flt. Lt., R. Aux. A.F.) good very fine (6) £2000-2500

D.F.C. London Gazette 3 April 1945. The following details were extracted from Air Ministry records: ‘Flying Officer Owen Arthur Parry, R.A.F.V.R., No. 11 Squadron. Flying Officer Parry has completed a tour of operational duty throughout which he has displayed great skill and courage. He has led hid flight and, at times his squadron, with great coolness and efficiency and has inflicted considerable damage on enemy vehicles and supplies. Both in the air and on the ground this officer has set an excellent example. He has materially contributed to the many successes achieved by his squadron.’

Flying Officer Parry’s award was made in recognition of operational flying with South East Asia Command, during the battles of Kohima and Imphal in 1944. At this time 11 Squadron was equipped with Hurricane F2b fighter bombers and was employed on search and destroy missions against any Japanese target.

Parry’s official recommendation shows that he completed his first operational tour of 300 hours on 27th November 1944 with 11 Squadron, having flown a total of 176 sorties. The Air Marshal Commanding, HQ R.A.F. Bengal Burma, remarked: ‘The very high total of operational flying hours of this pilot represents distinguished flying of the highest order. No. 11 Squadron has attained very spectacular results on the lines of communication, largely responsible for the defeat of the enemy in the Imphal campaign, and this pilot has taken his full share in the attainment of these results.’

An insight into this type of combat operation is given in the log book entries of Flight Lieutenant C. G. H. Ditmus of 11 Squadron, published in the book ‘Air Battle of Imphal’ by Norman Franks, which also mentions Flight Lieutenant Parry:

‘... 11 Squadron, like the other Hurricane units, were busy and had been since the beginning of March: “My log book shows such bald statements as - Patrols over Chowringhee - scrambles at base when we were always too low and too slow to intercept, though the Spitfire Squadrons got a few. Army support strafing 160 miles to the east of Imphal, with occasional high body-counts by the Army afterwards (March 18). Serach and destroy patrols (Rhubarbs) - Irrawaddy and Chindwin (March 20-21) - Chin Hills, Roads (March 29-30), Sittaung-Tamu Road, Indaw Railway - one train (April 9) Tiddim-Tamu Road, transport and staff car confirmed (April 10). Then, (April 19-30) numerous Army support operations at Kohima.” Flight Lieutenant C. G. H. Ditmus, 11 Squadron.

The staff car he mentions on 9th April he had found on a morning Rhubarb. Flying Officer O. A. Parry was his No. 2. They found a 3-ton lorry which they shot up and later saw the Japanese staff car heading north, very fast. They attacked and it went off the road to go crashing down the hillside!’

Sold with a large quantity of additional research including copies of No. 11 Squadron’s Operations Record Books for the period March to December 1944 which detail the very high number of sorties flown by Flight Lieutenant Parry.