Blenheim off Scarborough.
On the 21th of January 1942 this Blenheim took off from RAF Upwood for a navigation exercise. Not much more is known other than
at 13.15hrs on the same day an RAF aircraft is listed in Scarborough ARP and Police reports as feared lost and crashing into the North Sea
four miles north east of Scarborough. The crash report for Blenheim Z7453 states its location was three miles east of Filey and at 11.56hrs. It
is assumed that both refer to the same aircraft, the time error could be due to the police's later time being that when it
was reported. The Scarborough lifeboat was sent out but nothing was found. No trace was ever
found of the three aircrew.
Pilot - F/O Edwin R Parke RAAF, aged 25, of Ascot Vale, Victoria, Australia. Commemerated on the Runnymede Memorial. he had a total of 137 hours flying at the time of his death, 48 being on Blenheims.
? - Sgt Francis Coakley RAFVR, aged 20, of Warrington. Commemerated on the Runnymede Memorial.
? - Sgt Maurice York RAFVR, aged ?, of South Hetton, County Durham. Commemerated on the Runnymede Memorial.
F/O Parke was born on the 23rd of December 1916 in Moonee Ponds, Victoria. Before enlisting he was a health inspector
for Melbourne City Council. He enlisted on the 18th of AUgust 1940 in Melbourne. His older brother, Hubert Parke, served in the
Australian Army, reaching the rank of Major prior to his discharge in October 1945.