Flight Lieutenant John “ Jack “ Parr Remembered.
PARR, John F. "Jack" - (Veteran of WWII, RCAF and POW) Passed away at the Residence at King Place, Midland on Wednesday, December 12, 2012, in his 94th year.
So states the obituary of 2012.
We have to remind ourselves when we remember those who served or died fighting, that these young men and women were often in their twenties. Most still in school with paper routes or stacking grocery store shelves to make money. In fact, that is what Jack did.
Called up in September of 1940, Jack trained in St. Catherines and Dunnville, and got his wings the following May. He was just 21.
Ground strafing, or “rhubarb” brought the plane down on a mission over France and Jack found himself a guest of Stalag Luft III.
When Flight Lieutenant John “ Jack “ Parr RCAF returned from active service with 403 Squadron, many of his mates were dead. In the attached picture, we find them at North Weald in 1942. Notice on the back details their fates.
Jack Parr would have been listed as dead, but for a parachute. Note the Caterpillar Club Pin.
Jack died in 2012 in his 94th year. Beloved husband of the late Alice E. Parr, Dad to David, Sharon and Steven. Jack had four sisters and a brother.
Jack Parr’s Super Save is the grocery store that Jack ran after the war.
Some of the details have been furnished by daughter Sharon and son-in-law John Vanderende. Thank you for your service.
We Will Remember Them.
René Hackstetter, Nov 11, 2021.
