The medals of a fighter pilot who turned the poster boy of the RAF through the Second World Battle earlier than check flying prototype jet planes later in his profession are set to fetch as much as £120,000 at public sale.
Wing Commander Peter Lawrence Parrott flew Hurricanes and Spitfires and survived each the Battle of France and the Battle of Britain – regardless of being shot down twice.
While in fight over Dunkirk in Might 1940 – earlier than greater than 300,000 retreating Allied troops needed to be rescued – Wing Commander Parrott’s aircraft was broken by enemy hearth and he limped residence to Britain earlier than crash touchdown in a area on the south coast.
Later, on December 1, 1940, he was shot down and recalled how, after he ‘slammed into the bottom’, he was undecided if ‘I used to be nonetheless on this world or had already handed on to the subsequent’.
Parrott’s wartime fame got here when his {photograph}, which had been taken through the Battle of France, was utilized by the Royal Air Drive (RAF) for a recruiting poster.
The advert, which referred to as on Britons to ‘Volunteer for flying duties’, offered one of many iconic pictures of the Second World Battle.
Following the battle, Parrott certified as a check pilot and went on to fly early variations of Vampire and Meteor jets. Regardless of the excessive casualty price, Parrott survived his service.
After leaving the RAF in 1965, Parrott labored as an airline pilot and, through the 1972 Arab Israeli battle, was tasked with selecting up Ugandan dictator Idi Amin so he may supposedly act as a mediator within the battle.
On touchdown in Uganda, Parrott and his co-pilot had been briefly arrested by Amin’s mercenaries earlier than they realised who they had been.
Wing Commander Parrott’s group of eight medals, which embody the celebrated Distinguished Flying Cross awarded for bravery, are being offered by his household with public sale home Dix Noonan Webb.

The medals of a fighter pilot who turned the poster boy of the RAF through the Second World Battle earlier than check flying prototype jet planes later in his profession are set to fetch as much as £120,000 at public sale. Wing Commander Peter Lawrence Parrott flew Hurricanes and Spitfires and survived each the Battle of France and the Battle of Britain – regardless of being shot down twice

Parrott’s wartime fame got here when his {photograph}, which had been taken through the Battle of France, was utilized by the Royal Air Drive (RAF) for a recruiting poster in 1940
Born in Aylesbury, Buckinghamshire, in June 1920, Parrott was educated at Lord Williams’ Grammar Faculty earlier than working within the native council workplaces after leaving college.
After signing up with the RAF when the Second World Battle started in 1939, Parrott went on to fly with 607 Squadron and later with 145 Squadron, the place he flew over the seashores of Dunkirk through the Battle of France.
Throughout his first aerial combats in Might 1940, he practically achieved what was often called ‘ace in a day’ standing – the time period used to designate a pilot who had shot down 5 or extra planes in a single interval of flying.
He later recalled the second that he noticed quite a few German Junker 87 plane through the Battle of Britain. He wrote: ‘…our first view of the convoy close to St. Catherine’s Level was of Ju 87’s of their bombing dives.
‘Above the Ju. 87’s had been the escorting Bf 109’s and farther to the south-east had been two extra giant formations of enemy plane approaching the convoy – a formidable sight.
‘I had already taken half within the Battle for France, and patrolled over Dunkirk through the evacuation, however I had by no means earlier than seen so many plane within the sky without delay.’

Wing Commander Parrott’s group of eight medals, which embody the celebrated Distinguished Flying Cross awarded for bravery, are being offered by his household with public sale home Dix Noonan Webb. Pictured left to proper: Distinguished Flying Cross, G.VI.R.; Air Drive Cross, G.VI.R.; 1939-45 Star, 1 clasp, Battle of Britain; Air Crew Europe Star; Italy Star; Battle Medal 1939-45; Normal Service 1918-62, 1 clasp, Cyprus (Wg. Cdr. P. L. Parrott. R.A.F.); Mauritania, Order of Benefit, Officer’s breast badge, silver-gilt and enamel, in A. Bertrand, Paris case of subject

Parrott’s medals are being offered with 5 of his log books, together with the recruitment poster
In early March 1940, Parrott’s path to that includes on a recruitment poster started when his picture was taken by photographer who was accompanying a gaggle of battle correspondents through the Battle of France.
He recalled: ‘We had been visited by a gaggle of battle correspondents with a photographer. The Commanding Officer had picked me as No. 3 in a piece of three Gladiators to present a small flying show to them.
‘As I used to be strolling out to my plane the RAF photographer stopped me and requested me to look again on the roof of the Nissen hut I had simply left.
‘I did so however may see nothing of curiosity there however as I did so he dropped on one knee and power {a photograph} of me and mentioned, “Thanks.”
‘Quickly afterwards my {photograph} appeared with three different 607 Squadron pilots [William Gore, Maurice Irving and John Sample – two which were killed in action during the Battle of Britain, and one was killed in a flying accident in 1941] in The Every day Sketch.
Quickly after, the designer Jonathan Foss used the picture of Parrott to type his first main RAF recruitment poster in 1940. It was used broadly throughout the nation.
It declared that candidates may very well be accepted as pilots, wi-fi operators, air observers and air gunners.
Experiencing this honour was solely topped when he was shot down whereas serving in 605 Squadron.
He later recalled: ‘Wanting down, the bottom appeared to be developing remarkably shortly.
‘I used to be swinging back and forth however had no time to strive pulling the shrouds to cease the swing earlier than I slammed into the bottom, on in regards to the third downward swing, falling on my proper leg and shoulder. I felt half surprised….
I opened my eyes and located I used to be mendacity on the grass…. I used to be presently undecided whether or not I used to be nonetheless on this world or had already handed on to the subsequent. I didn’t actually care a lot both means….’
Parrott went on to fly Spitfires over Sicily Italy and commanded 43 and 72 Squadrons.

In 1973, Parrott returned to Britain to work as a coaching adviser till he retired in 1983. Above: The pilot’s 1338-1974 log books
After serving as a check pilot from 1948 onwards following the Allied victory within the battle, Parrott left the RAF in 1965. He labored for airline Autair, flying routes in Britain.
He later flew members of the Libyan royal household and authorities on excursions of the Center East.
This connection led him to be directed by Libyan dictator Colonel Gaddafi to gather Idi Amin through the Arab-Israeli battle.
On touchdown within the Ugandan metropolis of Entebbe, he and his co-pilot had been arrested and interrogated as suspected mercenaries earlier than they had been in a position to persuade Amin’s safety forces who they had been.
In 1973, Parrott returned to Britain to work as a coaching adviser till he retired in 1983.
After the 1982 Falklands Battle, Parrott organised the sending of a telegram ‘From the Few to the Few’ congratulating Sea Harrier pilots for his or her position within the victory.
He additionally helped to get the statue of Battle of Britain hero Lord Hugh Dowding erected within the Strand.
Parrott’s medals are being offered with 5 of his log books, together with the recruitment poster.
Mark Quayle, Specialist (Affiliate Director) Dix Noonan Webb commented: ‘Wing Commander Peter Parrott did extra within the yr of 1940, aged simply 19, than most individuals expertise in a lifetime.
‘An ‘Ace’ who distinguished himself in each Hurricanes and Spitfires, surviving the Battle of France, the autumn of Dunkirk, and triumphing within the Battle of Britain.
He additionally suffered the ache of dropping his elder brother killed in motion. Parrott went on to guide a vibrant lifetime of flying, together with surviving the terrifying foibles of Idi Amin and Colonel Gaddafi.’