FLGOFF Sidney F. Parlato NZ415778 DFC RNZAF

Hi Macca, Mike, Tony & Andrew
Just new to the Forum as of today. My Uncle was the pilot of LM130 Lanc and I’m going to the UK in September. Just going to miss you Macca.:(
I’m going to visit RAF Waddington where Uncle Norman flew from 463 Squadron RAAF and also the site of the old RAF Metheringham. I would also like to find the crash site and hoping, Macca, you can mark it out for me or Andrew let me know the exact location. 🙂 . I too would like to see a plaque at the crash site. I’m actually going to make a short doco on my Uncle and have started a website in an effort to raise a small amount to help me upgrade my camera gear. My 20 year old daughter is coming with me and will be my ‘on screen talent’. A poignant fact is that she is the same age as Norman was when he his crew and F/O Parlato were killed. The site is a basic one http://normanandnickthenazineutraliser.org/
Cheers guys and thanks for the most helpful information. Look forward to some posts.
Roland Orchard

Mike,

Thank you for making contact, hopefully we can catch up on my next visit to England, planned for June/July 2014.

Macca

Andrew,

Great information thanks mate. I knew of the crash site location, however not about Les Munro, excellent My intention next year is when I once again return to England like I do most years, is to actually go to Ash Holt as described. Once again many thanks for taking the time out and replying.
Macca
Sydney
Australia

Hi Macca!
I have just joined the Forum and discovered it by putting in Sid Parlato’s name. I met him when I was a small child shortly before he was killed. My father Flt.Lt Dai Thomas was his navigator on forty five missions with 139/627 Pathfinder Squadron flying the PPF Mosquito. I have a couple of pictures, an article from the book “The Wooden Wonder” and my fathers logbook. I am planning to put all this on the internet soon. The RNZAF museum sent me other articles that you probably have. My private email is: [email]thomas664@btinternet.com[/email] I live in London. If you send me your telephone number I will call you. Best Wishes !
Mike Thomas

Macca

I’m sure you know that your great uncle was attached to 1690 BDTF at RAF Metheringham at the time of his sad loss. What you may not know is that this Unit’s CO at the time was another New Zealander – None other than Les Munro – one of only three surviving veterans of the famous Dambusters raid. I believe he still lives in NZ and must have known your great uncle, as the BDTF was a small unit. Incidentally, about 30 years ago I recovered (and took to a now-defunct local air museum) a large piece of what I believe to be the Lancaster (called “Nick the Nazi Neutraliser”) which hit your great uncle’s aircraft. The records cite the location as “Asholt” but it is actually “Ash Holt” near the village of Blankney. I hope this helps. I also have a couple of other bits of information about your great uncle, which I’d be happy to email to you if they would help. All the best. Andrew Clark

Hi Macca!
I have just joined the Forum and discovered it by putting in Sid Parlato’s name. I met him when I was a small child shortly before he was killed. My father Flt.Lt Dai Thomas was his navigator on forty five missions with 139/627 Pathfinder Squadron flying the PPF Mosquito. I have a couple of pictures, an article from the book “The Wooden Wonder” and my fathers logbook. I am planning to put all this on the internet soon. The RNZAF museum sent me other articles that you probably have. My private email is: [email]thomas664@btinternet.com[/email] I live in London. If you send me your telephone number I will call you. Best Wishes !
Mike Thomas

Tony,

Thank you, I have that info on my file about his life and as I mentioned on the original post, I have visited his grave a number of times over the years, when I have been in the UK. My great auntie(Sid’s wife) prior to her passing away ten years ago, told me they were only married less than a week, prior to him shipping out, she never saw him again and regretfully never got to see his grave. I first visited his grave in 1993 and took some video of it and the surrounds, along with some colour photographs, that was the first time she had seen it. Also of interest, prior to her death, she asked me to take his DFC and keep it in safe custody, I said it would be better in New Zealand where it could be viewed by his own countryman, hence it now resides in the RNZAF Museum at Wigram. I was the executor of her estate and I wanted to make sure it was not on loan to them and gifted, as a result of my investigations to his other medals location, in that the full set could be donated, I found out they were never claimed. However to keep the story short, they are now all together and at at their rightful home, the RNZAF Museum. Thank you once again Tony for your interest.
“Lest We Forget”

Hi Macca

Here is the thread to the AWM Cenotaph database:

http://muse.aucklandmuseum.com/databases/Cenotaph/25838.detail?Ordinal=1&c_surname_search=parlato&c_warconflict_search=%22world+war+ii,+1939-1945%22

Included in the photos are these ones:

His CWGC reference is here:

http://www.cwgc.org/search-for-war-dead/casualty/2651426/PARLATO,%20SIDNEY%20FREDERICK

Hope this helps
Tony