Pfc. M. M. Gwaltney letter to C. Walder Parke, July 11, 1944   Save
Charles Walder Parke WW2 Collection
Description: Letter from M. M. Gwaltney to C. Walder Parke discussing marriage and his new assignment. Gwaltney mentions his transfer from Egypt to Tehran, reminisces about the "ole days," and congratulates Parke on his marriage while referencing personal marriage plans. Gwaltney's full name is Macklin Malone Gwaltney, a member of the Army Air Forces who was sent along with Parke to San Antonio, Texas for training. Gwaltney signs the letter as "Tennessee". Parke may have known Gwaltney during his teenage years. Charles Walder Parke was born on July 28, 1924, and grew up in Shaker Heights, Ohio. He enlisted in the United States Army Air Forces in 1942 intending to be a pilot during WWII, but spent most of his military career as a navigator on B-17 Flying Fortresses in the 94th Bombardment Group. Parke earned two Bronze Stars, an Air Medal with several Oak Leaf Clusters, and the Distinguished Flying Cross for his successful bombing missions, including some over Berlin. He is best known for being on board a B-17 which was shot down over France by German planes on June 25, 1944, during a non-combat mission. The crew managed to make an emergency landing, and everyone inside survived. After the war, Parke founded the Cleveland-based Laurel Industries Inc., which became a prominent supplier of antimony oxide to the plastics industry. He died of Lou-Gehrig’s Disease on September 15, 1996, at the age of 72. View on Ohio Memory.
Image ID: MSS1510_B02F01_012_01
Subjects: Parke, Charles Walder, 1924-1996--Correspondence; Courtship; United States. Army Air Forces
Places: Tehran (Iran)