Parrott, Thomas Hayward
Personal Information
Rank | F/O |
Forename(s) | Thomas Hayward |
Surname | Parrott |
Gender | M |
Age | 23 |
Decorations | MiD |
Date of Death | 12-05-1940 |
Next of Kin | Son of Walter Lawrence Parrott and Katherine Mary Parrott (née Seaton) of Aylesbury, Bucks. |
Aircraft Information
Aircraft | Armstrong Whitworth Whitley V |
Serial Number | N1366 |
Markings | KN- |
Memorial Information
Burial/Memorial Country | Germany |
Burial/Memorial Place | Reichswald Forest War Cemetery |
Grave Reference | 25. E. 12. |
Epitaph |
IBCC Memorial Information
Phase | 2 |
Panel Number | 223 |
Enlistment Information
Service Number | 39112 |
Service | Royal Air Force |
Group | 4 |
Squadron | 77 |
Trade | Pilot |
Country of Origin | United Kingdom |
Other Memorials
Location | Holy Trinity Church, Elvington, North Yorkshire |
Country | United Kingdom |
Memorial Type | Stained Glass Window & Roll of Honour |
Memorial Text | Memorial windows and Roll of Honour for 77 Sqn. R.A.F. |
Location | Yorkshire Air Museum, Elvington North Yorkshire |
Country | United Kingdom |
Memorial Type | Marble Column with Metal Sculpture and Plaques |
Memorial Text | Memorial to 77 Sqn. R.A.F. City of Lancaster's own |
Miscellaneous Information
Mentioned in Despatches February 1940 |
Born 26 November 1916. His father was a solicitor. His younger Brother was Battle of Britain Pilot W/C Peter Lawrence Parrott DFC & Bar, AFC. Educated at Lord William's Grammar School as a boarder and although of average academic ability he was a very good sportsman, particulary good at rugby. Served for a period with the Middlesex Yeomanry (Royal Corps of Signals) before receiving a commission into the RAF in June 1936. In March 1940 as second Pilot in the 77 Squadron Whitley of F/Lt Tomlin he shared the distinction of being in the only Bomber Command aircraft to land in Germany during the War, believing they had crossed the border into France returning from a Nickel raid on Warsaw, low on fuel and with rapidly deteriorating weather. They landed in large bumpy field and realised their mistake after speaking to some local people to confirm their whereabouts. They came under fire from German troops approaching on bicycles as they barely cleared hedges at the far end of the field, landing 20 miles further west in Allied territory. |
Commonwealth War Graves Commission
The National Archives
Record of Events (Operational Record Book) AIR 27/655/18 |
Summary of Events (Operational Record Book) AIR 27/655/17 |
Fellow Servicemen
Last Operation Information
Start Date | 11-05-1940 |
End Date | 12-05-1940 |
Takeoff Station | Driffield |
Day/Night Raid | Night (20% moon) |
Operation | Road and rail communications in and around Monchengladbach. First raid of the war on German soil |
Reason for Loss | Hit by flak over target |