Ray Parer
Encyclopedia
Raymond John Paul Parer AFC
(18 February 1894 – 4 July 1967), was an Australia
n aviator
.
Parer was born in Melbourne
, and developed an interest in aviation at an early age. He enlisted in the Australian Flying Corps in 1916, initially as a mechanic, but was soon accepted to train as a pilot. His initial training was conducted at Point Cook. He was sent to England
, and served as a pilot there, particularly in the test pilot role.
After the end of World War I
, the Australian government offered a prize of £10000 for the first flight from England to Australia
. He paired with John McIntosh, and, although leaving well after the event had been won, they arrived in Darwin
on 2 August 1920. Their aircraft was an Airco DH-9, and theirs was the only other entrant to successfully complete the race. He was later awarded the Air Force Cross
for this feat.
Parer was also a pioneer of aviation in New Guinea
, one of the most hostile environments to operate an aircraft anywhere on earth. Aviation in the country at that time was chiefly involved with the gold mining industry, which was thriving in the 1920s. Parer set up business there, and is reputed to have been the first pilot to fly over the Owen Stanley Range
.
In 1934, he participated in the MacRobertson Air Race
from England to Australia, this time teamed with Geoff Hemsworth, flying a Fairey Fox
. They departed on 20 October 1934, arriving at the destination, Melbourne
, on 13 February 1935. Parer then returned to New Guinea, however the advent of World War II
found him once again in military service, this time in the Royal Australian Air Force
. Due to his health he was made a reserve, since he could not fly he turned to the sea. He was an engineer aboard the Melanesia, which delivered supplies and undertook reconnaissance along New Guinea's northern coastline.
After the war he purchased a ketch in Darwin and embarked in pearl exploration in the Torres Strait. From 1941 until 1951 he skippered a barge for the Department of Works around the Papua-New Guinea coast. He then worked on tourist vessels on the Great Barrier Reef, Queensland as an engineer. From 1956-58 he returned to Papua New Guinea to work in the oil exploration industry. He spent the last years of his life running two small farms at Mount Nebo, Queensland.
Air Force Cross (United Kingdom)
The Air Force Cross is a military decoration awarded to personnel of the United Kingdom Armed Forces, and formerly also to officers of the other Commonwealth countries, for "an act or acts of valour, courage or devotion to duty whilst flying, though not in active operations against the enemy"...
(18 February 1894 – 4 July 1967), was an Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
n aviator
Aviator
An aviator is a person who flies an aircraft. The first recorded use of the term was in 1887, as a variation of 'aviation', from the Latin avis , coined in 1863 by G. de la Landelle in Aviation Ou Navigation Aérienne...
.
Parer was born in Melbourne
Melbourne
Melbourne is the capital and most populous city in the state of Victoria, and the second most populous city in Australia. The Melbourne City Centre is the hub of the greater metropolitan area and the Census statistical division—of which "Melbourne" is the common name. As of June 2009, the greater...
, and developed an interest in aviation at an early age. He enlisted in the Australian Flying Corps in 1916, initially as a mechanic, but was soon accepted to train as a pilot. His initial training was conducted at Point Cook. He was sent to England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
, and served as a pilot there, particularly in the test pilot role.
After the end of World War I
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
, the Australian government offered a prize of £10000 for the first flight from England to Australia
England to Australia flight
In 1919 the Australian government offered a prize of £A10,000 for the first Australians in a British aircraft to fly from Great Britain to Australia. Of the six entries that started the race, the winners were two brothers and their two crew in a Vickers Vimy....
. He paired with John McIntosh, and, although leaving well after the event had been won, they arrived in Darwin
Darwin, Northern Territory
Darwin is the capital city of the Northern Territory, Australia. Situated on the Timor Sea, Darwin has a population of 127,500, making it by far the largest and most populated city in the sparsely populated Northern Territory, but the least populous of all Australia's capital cities...
on 2 August 1920. Their aircraft was an Airco DH-9, and theirs was the only other entrant to successfully complete the race. He was later awarded the Air Force Cross
Air Force Cross (United Kingdom)
The Air Force Cross is a military decoration awarded to personnel of the United Kingdom Armed Forces, and formerly also to officers of the other Commonwealth countries, for "an act or acts of valour, courage or devotion to duty whilst flying, though not in active operations against the enemy"...
for this feat.
Parer was also a pioneer of aviation in New Guinea
New Guinea
New Guinea is the world's second largest island, after Greenland, covering a land area of 786,000 km2. Located in the southwest Pacific Ocean, it lies geographically to the east of the Malay Archipelago, with which it is sometimes included as part of a greater Indo-Australian Archipelago...
, one of the most hostile environments to operate an aircraft anywhere on earth. Aviation in the country at that time was chiefly involved with the gold mining industry, which was thriving in the 1920s. Parer set up business there, and is reputed to have been the first pilot to fly over the Owen Stanley Range
Owen Stanley Range
Owen Stanley Range is the south-eastern part of the central mountain-chain in Papua New Guinea. It was seen in 1849 by Captain Owen Stanley while surveying the south coast of Papua and named after him. Strictly, the eastern extremity of the range is Mount Victoria , which was climbed by Sir William...
.
In 1934, he participated in the MacRobertson Air Race
MacRobertson Air Race
The MacRobertson Trophy Air Race took place October, 1934 as part of the Melbourne Centenary celebrations. The idea of the race was devised by the Lord Mayor of Melbourne, and a prize fund of $75,000 was put up by Sir Macpherson Robertson, a wealthy Australian confectionery manufacturer, on the...
from England to Australia, this time teamed with Geoff Hemsworth, flying a Fairey Fox
Fairey Fox
The Fairey Fox was a British light bomber and fighter biplane of the 1920s and 1930s. It was originally produced in Britain for the RAF, but continued in production and use in Belgium long after it was retired in Britain.-Fox I:...
. They departed on 20 October 1934, arriving at the destination, Melbourne
Melbourne
Melbourne is the capital and most populous city in the state of Victoria, and the second most populous city in Australia. The Melbourne City Centre is the hub of the greater metropolitan area and the Census statistical division—of which "Melbourne" is the common name. As of June 2009, the greater...
, on 13 February 1935. Parer then returned to New Guinea, however the advent of World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
found him once again in military service, this time in the Royal Australian Air Force
Royal Australian Air Force
The Royal Australian Air Force is the air force branch of the Australian Defence Force. The RAAF was formed in March 1921. It continues the traditions of the Australian Flying Corps , which was formed on 22 October 1912. The RAAF has taken part in many of the 20th century's major conflicts...
. Due to his health he was made a reserve, since he could not fly he turned to the sea. He was an engineer aboard the Melanesia, which delivered supplies and undertook reconnaissance along New Guinea's northern coastline.
After the war he purchased a ketch in Darwin and embarked in pearl exploration in the Torres Strait. From 1941 until 1951 he skippered a barge for the Department of Works around the Papua-New Guinea coast. He then worked on tourist vessels on the Great Barrier Reef, Queensland as an engineer. From 1956-58 he returned to Papua New Guinea to work in the oil exploration industry. He spent the last years of his life running two small farms at Mount Nebo, Queensland.