These profiles and stories were donated to the RAAF Museum by the Gold Coast Branch of the Air Crew Association.

Service Profile: John Parker

John N. Parker AFC DFM Air Medal (US) (ACA 17771) was an aircrew member of the Royal Australian Air Force from 1950 to 1970, serving as a pilot.

Training at No. 1 Flying Training School, Point Cook, Victoria, John carried out his operational training at No. 2 (F) Operational Training Unit (OTU) Williamtown, NSW, ('F' standing for 'fighter').

During his Permanent Air Force career, he flew Tiger Moths, Wirraways, Mustangs, Vampires, Meteors, Sabres, NF11s, Dakotas and Canberras. He was a member of the first group of Accredited Jet Flying Instructors in the RAAF (QFI). He was also a Weapons Officer (W), a Fighter Combat Instructor (FCI) and Ground Controlled Intercept (GCI) Fighter Controller.

John experienced active service with No. 77 Squadron in Korea, earning the awards of Distinguished Flying Medal and US Air Medal. He also served as Chief Controller/Operations Officer with No. 114 Mobile Control and Reporting Unit at Butterworth, Malaysia, and in Thailand during the period of 'Confrontation' with Indonesia.

On other postings in Australia, John was 'A' Flight Commander of No. 23 (F) City of Brisbane (Citizens Air Force) Squadron, and Commanding Officer of No. 1 (B) [for 'bomber'] Operational Conversion Unit (OCU) at Amberley, Queensland. Having undertaken a short tour in Vietnam, he developed an appropriate flying syllabus for aircrew converting onto Canberras for operational service with No. 2 (B) Squadron based at Phan Rang, South Vietnam. For this and for his command activities, John was awarded the Air Force Cross.

In 1960, John had a very interesting posting to Woomera, SA, as a member of No. 1 Air Trials Unit Target Aircraft Flight. This unit operated the pilotless V12 Jindivik, Meteor U15 and Canberra U10 aircraft as targets for radar tracking and live firing, using surface-to-air (SAM) and air-to-air (AAM) weapons. He was a member of the team which flew the aircraft unmanned, but also the test pilot who conducted the flight tests sitting in aircraft under remote control from take-off to landing on the flight before an unmanned live firing at the target aircraft. This flight could be a rather nerve-racking experience, particularly the landing.

John retired from the RAAF as a Squadron Leader in 1970 and immediately joined the (then) Department of Civil Aviation, Melbourne, as an Examiner of Airmen.