William Parr (footballer)


William Wilfred Parr or Bill Parr was an England amateur International footballer and an English professional footballer who played as an outside right for Blackpool, Dulwich Hamlet and Arsenal. He joined Arsenal in May 1939 but his first game with the team was not until almost a year later during World War II, in April 1940 at Southend. He then joined the Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve.

England amateur football career

Parr took part in the 1937 Tour of New Zealand, Australia and Ceylon by the England Amateur National Team.

Death

Parr was one of three crewmen on board the Lockheed Hudson V serial number AM535 of No. 233 Squadron RAF based at RAF St Eval, who were killed when it crashed in a field at Lower Treburrick Farm, St Ervan, four miles north east of RAF St Mawgan in Cornwall, on the night of 8 March 1942. The three airmen were conducting a training exercise, but overshot the airfield and crashed, killing pilot Parr and the other two on board.