Major General James E. Parker
U.S. Army Air Force (USAAF)

Background
James Edmund Parker was born August 9, 1896 to parents William Edward Parker and Minnie Frances Reidinger Parker in Anniston, Alabama. He attended the United States Military Academy (USMA) at West Point class of 1918.

On November 1, 1918 commissioned as a 2nd Lieutenant in the U.S. Army in Field Artillery and remained at West Point for duty. During July 1919 he toured the World War I battlefields in Belgium, France and Italy then joined U.S. forces in Germany as an observer. In October 1919 he returned to the United States and enter the Field Artillery School at Camp Zachary Taylor, Kentucky.

On July 1, 1920 assigned to the Air Service and graduated from Field Artillery School. He enrolled in the Air Service Pilots School at Carlstrom Field in Florida and graduated in March 1921. Next, assigned to Post Field in Oklahoma then entered the Air Service Observation School. After graduation in 1921 remained for flying duty.

In March 1922 he was assigned to the 318th Pursuit Group, Organized Reserves, at Indianapolis, Indiana. He became Air Service Officer for the 84th Division, Organized Reserves, there in July 1922. He transferred from Field Artillery to the Air Service on August 31, 1922. In August 1923 he became Executive Officer of the Air Units of the 84th Division, Organized Reserves. From October 1923 to January 1926 he was Adjutant for the 309th Observation Squadron, Organized Reserves at Indianapolis.

He then went to France Field, Panama Canal Zone, for duty with the 7th Observation Squadron. He transferred to the 24th Pursuit Squadron there in March 1927. In August 1928 he was commended by General Malin Craig for a flight from France Field to Washington, D.C. Upon his return to the United States in November 1928 he became Assistant Chief of the Planes and Engines Maintenance Unit at Wright Field, Ohio, and in July 1930 became Assistant Chief of the Operations Office there.

In August 1932 he entered the Air Corps Engineering School at Wright Field. Following graduation in July 1933 he went to Selfridge Field, Michigan, to command the 57th Service Squadron. From February 1934 to May 1934 he was an Air Mail Pilot at Columbus, Ohio, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, and Newark, New Jersey, and then returned to Selfridge Field for duty with the 57th Service Squadron.

He transferred to Rockwell Field, California, in January 1935 for special training in advanced air navigation and instrument flying, and the following month returned to Selfridge Field to command the 27th Pursuit Squadron. He entered the Air Corps Tactical School at Maxwell Field, Alabama, in August 1935. He was graduated in June 1936, and then became an instructor at the school, becoming Chief of the Pursuit Section there in September 1938. In July 1940 he went on duty in the Maintenance Branch of the Field Service Section at Wright Field, Ohio.

Wartime History
During July 1941, became engineering officer at the Mobile Air Depot at Brookley Feld in Alabama. On February 1, 1942 promoted to the rank of Colonel in the U.S. Army. On March 1, 1942 promoted to the rank of Colonel in the U.S. Army Air Force (USAAF).

In September 1942 assigned to Headquarters and Headquarters Squadron, III Bomber Command, as coordinating officer at MacDill Field in Florida. On November 4, 1942 assumed command of Headquarters III Bomber Command. On December 4, 1942 promoted to the rank of Brigadier General. On December 11, 1942 promoted to the rank of Lieutenant Colonel. On July 14, 1944 became Commanding General, 4th Air Force (4th AF) in San Francisco. On November 9, 1944 promoted to the rank of Major General.

On May 22, 1945 Parker was assigned to the United States Army Air Forces, Pacific Ocean Areas (USAFPOA), as Deputy Commanding General for Administration, and upon reorganization was named Deputy Commanding General for Supply and Maintenance. On August 10, 1945 Parker became Commanding General, Headquarters, United States Army Strategic Air Forces, Middle Pacific Area. On October 15, 1945, became Commanding General, 20th Air Force (20th AF) at Harmon Field on Guam.

Mission History
On March 19, 1946 at 8:00am took off from Kiangwan Airfield near Shanghai in China piloting B-17G Flying Fortress 44-83779 on an administrative flight bound for Nichols Field in the Philippines scheduled to arrive at 3:06pm. Aboard were personnel from 20th Air Force (20th AF), Headquarters Squadron (HQ). The weather was rain and fog and the pilot reported Instrument Flight Rules (IFR) flying conditions. The only radio report was at 10:30am reporting their position as 180 miles east of the coast of China. Last seen over Formosa (Taiwan) around 11:00am. When this plane failed to arrive it was declared Missing In Action (MIA).

Recovery of Remains
On March 20, 1946 during the initial search team recovered eight including Parker and were transported to Taihoku (Taipei). Although the bodies were partially burned, they were all positively identified by identification tags and laundry marks on clothing. Afterwards, the remains were transported to the Philippines for permanent burial.

Memorials
Parker was officially declared dead the day of the mission at age 49. He earned the Distinguished Service Medal (DSM), Legion of Merit with Oak Leaf Cluster and Bronze Star. He is buried at Manila American Cemetery at section A, row 7, plot 176.

Awards
Parker was rated a Command Pilot and Combat Observer. World War I Victory Medal, Army of Occupation of Germany Medal, Distinguished Gunner’s Badge (awarded in 1927) Distinguished Service Medal (DSM), Legion of Merit, American Defense Service Medal, American Campaign Medal, Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal, World War II Victory Medal.

References
U.S. Air Force Biographies - Major General James Edmund Parker (photo)
American Battle Monuments Commission (ABMC) - James E. Parker
FindAGrave - MAJ GEN James Edmund Parker (photos, grave photo)

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