Ralph Parr
Ralph Parr | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Birth name | Ralph Sherman Parr, Jr. |
| Born | July 1, 1924 Portsmouth, Virginia |
| Died | December 7, 2012 (aged 88) New Braunfels, Texas |
| Buried | |
| Allegiance | United States of America |
| Service |  United States Air Force |
| Years of service | 1942–1976 |
| Rank |  Colonel |
| Unit | 49th Fighter Bomber Wing 335th Fighter-Interceptor Squadron |
| Commands | 12th Tactical Fighter Wing |
| Battles / wars | World War II Korean War Vietnam War * Battle of Khe Sanh |
| Awards | Air Force Cross Distinguished Service Cross Silver Star Legion of Merit (3) Distinguished Flying Cross (10) Bronze Star Air Medal (41) |
Ralph Sherman Parr, Jr. (July 1, 1924 – December 7, 2012) was an American double-flying ace of the Korean War. He was credited with a total of ten downed enemy aircraft. He also flew in World War II and the Vietnam War, and is the only person to have been awarded the Distinguished Service Cross and the medal that replaced it, the Air Force Cross.[1]
Early life
Parr was born in 1924, in Portsmouth, Virginia. He enlisted in the United States Army Reserve in 1942, earned his wings in 1944, and flew Lockheed P-38 Lightnings in the Pacific during the last year of the Second World War.[1][2]
Korean War
In Korea he flew Lockheed F-80 Shooting Stars, then North American F-86 Sabres, managing to shoot down a total of ten enemy aircraft. On July 27, 1953, the day of the armistice, then Captain Parr scored the last aerial 'kill' of the War by shooting down an unarmed Soviet Navy Ilyushin Il-12 transport aircraft.[2] All 21 passengers including 3 medical staff were killed.[3]
After Korea
In Vietnam, Parr served as a McDonnell Douglas F-4 Phantom II squadron commander. He flew the aircraft on two combat tours, including one in which he saw action supporting the Battle of Khe Sanh. Following the war he took a number of desk assignments before retiring as a Colonel in 1976. He died on December 7, 2012 at an assisted living facility in New Braunfels, Texas. He was 88.[1][2]
Decorations
Air Force Cross (awarded for actions during the Vietnam War)
Distinguished Service Cross (awarded for actions during the Korean War)
Silver Star
Legion of Merit
Distinguished Flying Cross
Bronze Star
Air Medal
See also
References
- ^ a b c "Influential double ace fighter pilot dies at 88". mysanantonio.com. 2012-12-09. Retrieved 2012-12-09.
- ^ a b c "Col. Ralph Parr". Official Website of the US Air Force. Archived from the original on 2012-12-12. Retrieved 2012-12-09.
- ^ http://onekorea.ru/2011/07/08/incident-7-27-poslednie-zhertvy-poslednego-dnya-korejskoj-vojny/
- Valor Awards for Ralph Sherman Parr at militarytimes.com. Retrieved 2012-12-09.
External links
- Double Ace – Col. Ralph Parr at Airwingmedia.com
- Ralph Parr - FU Hero at fighterpilotuniversity.com
- 1924 births
- 2012 deaths
- American Korean War flying aces
- American military personnel of the Vietnam War
- Aviators from Texas
- Aviators from Virginia
- People from Portsmouth, Virginia
- People from New Braunfels, Texas
- Recipients of the Air Force Cross (United States)
- Recipients of the Air Medal
- Recipients of the Bronze Star Medal
- Recipients of the Distinguished Flying Cross (United States)
- Recipients of the Distinguished Service Cross (United States)
- Recipients of the Legion of Merit
- Recipients of the Silver Star
- United States Air Force officers
- United States Army Air Forces pilots of World War II
- United States Army Air Forces officers