State Library of South Australia

Lieutenant Raymond Parer arriving in Longreach [PRG 1123/41/22] • Photograph

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Summary

Lieutenant Ray Parer (centre) with his mother Myria (or Maria, nee Carolin) as they are making their way to their car, standing amidst a crown of admirers after landing in Longreach, 13 August 1920, 11 days after arriving in Darwin, completing the 208 day flight from England to Australia in which he participated with Lieutenant John McIntosh. This was the first time mother and son had been reunited since Parer embarked for active service in 1917.

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Physical description

1 photograph : black and white ; 8.3 cm x 13.7 cm

Dates / Publication details

13 August 1920

Collection

Part of Bishop Family

Subject

Parer, Raymond J. P. (Raymond John Paul), 1894-1967
Aeronautics -- Flights
Air pilots -- Australia
Aeronautics -- Australia -- History
Longreach (Qld.)

Catalogue record

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Historical information

Raymond John Paul Parer (1894-1967) was an airman and adventurer born in South Melbourne. Parer enlisted in the Australian Flying Corps and on 1 June 1917 he was commissioned as second lieutenant and embarked for Britain three weeks later, qualifying as a pilot on 15 February 1918 with the rank of lieutenant. Parer was posted to the Central Despatch Pool, Royal Air Force, where he tested and ferried various aircraft to units in Britain and France, and was twice recommended for an Air Force Cross. Parer paired with Lieutenant John McIntosh to take part in the Australian Government's £10,000 air race from England to Australia in a single-engine de Havilland D.H.9 biplane, G-EAQM, departing England 8 January 1920, and arriving in Darwin 208 days later on 2 August 1920. They completed the first single-engine aircraft flight from England to Australia and were each presented with an Air Force Cross. Parer formed Parer's Commercial Aviation Service in Melbourne and continued to take part in aviation contests and events until he suffered a crash on take off in February 1922. In 1926 Parer formed The Bulolo Goldfields Aeroplane Service Ltd in New Guinea. Parer served as a mechanic aboard the Melanesia during the Second World War, and after the war worked as an engineer aboard ships, boat operator, and manager of two small farms in Queensland. [Source: Keith Isaacs, 'Parer, Raymond John Paul (1894-1967)', Australian Dictionary of Biography].

Digitisation information

Date

04/08/2014

Format

image/tiff

Resolution

5,599 x 3,540 pixels (19.8 MP)

Size

59.48 MB

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