Vincent Parker

'''Vincent 'Bushy' Parker'''(11 February 1918 – 29 January 1946) was an Australian Royal Air Force flying ace, a prisoner of war and a serial escaper. He participated in the Second World War.

Parker emigrated to Australia as a child with his adoptive parents. After school, he worked for Kodak and trained as a magician and an escapologist, working with famed magician Leslie George Cole (The Great Lavante).

After travelling to Britain in 1938, he trained as a fighter pilot at an RAF flying school, and subsequently participated in the Battle of Britain. In August 1940, he was taken prisoner after landing in the English Channel.

As a prisoner of war, Parker dedicated himself to escape attempts, including escapes from Stalag Luft I and Stalag Luft III, as a result of which he was imprisoned in Colditz Castle.

Post liberation, in January 1946, Parker was killed in an aviation accident. Townsville City Council named Vincent Bushy Parker park in Rollingstone, Queensland Australia after him. Provided by Wikipedia