‘… was the rear gunner of a Lancaster aircraft detailed to attack Frankfurt on the night of 18th/19th March 1944. When over the target area, he sighted an Me.109 and immediately opened fire. Shots were exchanged and when last seen, the enemy aircraft was going down out of control and on fire. Sergeant Parle has now destroyed two enemy aircraft and damaged another two. At all times, this rear gunner has shown an excellent fighting spirit and he is an outstanding gunner.’

While the vast majority of gallantry awards remain in the hands of the recipient and his/her family, Richard Parle’s DFM was to take a remarkable journey and ended up in a coin dealers shop in Surabaya on the island of Java! Quite how it got there remains a mystery, but it was spotted (missing its clasp) in the early 1970s by ex-RAF Corporal George King, a keen coin collector, who had retired in Singapore. After having the ‘coin’ in his collection for many years, in 2006 George decided that he would like to return the medal to Sgt Parle or one of his next of kin.

This was the cue for the Association’s Information Officer Allen Hudson to begin extensive enquiries which concluded, incorrectly as it transpired, that Richard Parle had died in 1988, and that no next of kin could be found. It was 2024, before the Association learned that Richard had not passed away until 2003. However, back in 2008, in the incorrect belief that no relatives were alive, it was suggested to George King that he might donate the medal to the Lincolnshire Aviation Heritage Centre, which he quickly agreed to, and the Association paid for the medal to be fully restored. And so, the DFM finally came home to East Kirkby.

Allen Hudson is pictured presenting the restored DFM and citation to Fred and Harold Panton in 2008 at East Kirkby, where it still proudly hangs in the NAAFI.

Walt Scott from North Yorkshire was a prolific writer of poems during his time as a Mid-Upper Gunner with 630 Squadron. Michael Howley, from Devon, was a navigator on the Squadron at the same time having been a professional actor before and after the War. Transcripts of ten of Walt's poems are provided below, along with recordings of Michael reading the poems. The recordings have been kindly provided to the Association by our good friend Harold Houldershaw.

Click on the poem title to read the transcript and listen to Michael's reading.

630 Squadron Gallery & Archive

Formed from ‘B’ Flight of 57 Squadron in November 1943, 630 Squadron operated the Lancaster from RAF East Kirkby until it was disbanded in July 1945.

A Remarkable Discovery

Artefacts appear in amazing places. Perhaps none more so than the Distinguished Flying Medal that was awarded to Sergeant Richard Stafford Parle of 630 Squadron on 22 March 1944. The citation for the award notes that Parle had flown 23 sorties, amassing 160 flying hours, and that he ….

Flt Sgt Parle with his crew at East Kirkby in 1944. Parle is standing 3rd from the left.

Allen Hudson is pictured presenting the restored DFM and citation to Fred and Harold Panton in 2008 at East Kirkby, where it still proudly hangs in the NAAFI.

Walt Scott

Walt Scott was a wireless operator/gunner with 630 Squadron. He wrote some very moving poems about his time at RAF East Kirkby and on the Lancasters based there.

One of his best known and most evocative poems is ‘Old Airfield’ written about East Kirkby which during World War II was known by its callsign ‘SILKSHEEN’. The poem is displayed on a plaque at the East Kirkby memorial which is on the site of the airfield’s old Guardroom.

A recording of the poem, read quite brilliantly by Michael Howley of 630 Squadron, is played at the Service of Remembrance held in the hangar at East Kirkby during the annual reunion of the 57 & 630 Squadrons’ Association.

Click here, close your eyes, and listen to the poem

630 Squadron Losses in Belgium

18/19 March 1944 - Lancaster Mk III ND686 LE-M

Crew of LE-M (L-R): Gill, Orchiston, Clough, Dutchack, Pearse, Palmer, Kiltie

More Walt Scott Poems