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Bernard-Parker

A veteran interview with

Bernard Parke

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About Bernard Parke

Bernard Parke conscripted into the Royal Air Force as a Radar Operator recalls his time in the role and the difficulties that faced young men during their early careers in the force.  From 1 January 1949, healthy males 17 to 21 years old were expected to serve in the Armed Forces for 18 months, and remain on the reserve list for four years. After the Korean War, the service period was extended to four years. Bernard tells stories about the treatment he received from his superiors, his experience with American colleagues and how his handwriting almost got a Viscount airliner shot down! His story highlights the importance of the use of Decca’s Type 80 radar. In it’s day it was a huge leap in technology, after a short lull due to the aftermath of WWII, with a reliable range of 250 miles and the ability to distinguish two planes apart at a 150 miles. His important story of post WWII boom emphasises the impact of the 1950s low rate of unemployment (around 3% ). Servicemen during WWII had been promised employment after victory, and no government was prepared to break this pledge. Although, competition for the better jobs was tough and Bernard waited three months before he landed a job at Lloyds Bank. Overall, Bernard reflects fondly on his time spent with the RAF as a National Serviceman.

Credits

Interviewed by:
Martin Bisiker
Reviewed by:
Hannah Bowers

Copyright:
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Home | Veterans | Bernard Parke

A veteran interview with

Bernard Parke

Bernard-Parker

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Cite this interview:

MLA Style:
Parke, Bernard. A Veteran Interview with Bernard Parke. Interview by Martin Bisiker. Legasee, 23 Feb. 2011 https://www.legasee.org.uk/veteran/bernard-parke/. Accessed 25 May. 2025.
APA Style:
Parke, B. (2011, February 23). A Veteran Interview with Bernard Parke [Interview by Martin Bisiker]. Legasee. Retrieved May 25, 2025, from https://www.legasee.org.uk/veteran/bernard-parke/
Chicago Style:
Parke, Bernard. 2011. A Veteran Interview with Bernard Parke. Interview by Martin Bisiker. Legasee, February 23. Accessed May 25, 2025. https://www.legasee.org.uk/veteran/bernard-parke/
Harvard Style:
Parke, B. (2011). A Veteran Interview with Bernard Parke. [Interviewed by Martin Bisiker]. Legasee, 23 February. Available at https://www.legasee.org.uk/veteran/bernard-parke/ (Accessed: 25 May 2025)
Vancouver Style:
Parke, B. A Veteran Interview with Bernard Parke [Internet]. Interview by M. Bisiker. Legasee; 2011 Feb 23 [cited 2025 May 25]. Available from: https://www.legasee.org.uk/veteran/bernard-parke/
An interview with

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Stan Hope was captured in 1942 and, despite attempts to escape, was not liberated until May 1945

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Photo Gallery icon 11 Photos
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Aircraft-obsessive Ken Plowman grew up painting models and flying rubber motored planes across his hometown before deciding to join the Royal Observers Corps at just 16. One year later, he joined the RAF where he trained and served as a First Pilot in the Glider Pilot Regiment during WWII. In this interview, Ken recalls the important moments in his 20 year Flight Lieutenant career, particularly the highlight of his service in Operation Varsity in 1945. Ken was a quick learner and was allowed to fly solo after only 6 hours of Tiger Moth flights. As well as training as a firefighter and a train driver whilst on camp, he became an eager fan of aerobatics. Sadly, a lot of these his comrades lost their lives due to the danger of the job, especially during Operation Varsity as Ken flew to the mission with 440 other gliders and 6000 paratroopers. He considers himself lucky to still be alive as memories of close encounters with Germans, jumping out to avoid crash landings and faulty prop blades fill his memory even to this day. His service to WWII is greatly acknowledged in this interview.
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