Ralph Parr

From Infogalactic: the planetary knowledge core
Jump to: navigation, search

Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.

Ralph Parr
Ralph Parr.jpg
Birth name Ralph Sherman Parr, Jr.
Born July 1, 1924
Portsmouth, Virginia
Died Script error: The function "death_date_and_age" does not exist.
New Braunfels, Texas
Buried
Allegiance United States United States of America
Service/branch Seal of the US Air Force.svg United States Air Force
Years of service 1942–1976
Rank US-O6 insignia.svg Colonel
Unit 49th Fighter Bomber Wing
335th Fighter-Interceptor Squadron
Commands held 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 at 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

See also

References

<templatestyles src="Reflist/styles.css" />

Cite error: Invalid <references> tag; parameter "group" is allowed only.

Use <references />, or <references group="..." />

External links