Country: United States. Rank: Lieutenant Service: French Air Service. Squadrons: N124; Spa3. Victories: 8. Born: 24 September 1892. Place of Birth: Holyoke, Massachusetts Died: 2 May 1968 Place of Death: Sarasota, Florida Buried: Arlington National Cemetery

An experienced pilot when the war began, Parsons went to France at the end of 1915. He served with the United States Ambulance service before enlisting in the French Foreign Legion. In 1916, he became a pilot in the French Air Service and was assigned to N124 in January 1917.

When the war ended, Parsons returned to the United States and joined the Federal Bureau of Investigation and was employed as an aviation advisor for several Hollywood movies. 

As a naval officer during World War II, he was an instructor at Pensacola Naval Air Station and took part in the Solomon Islands campaign, ending the war as a Rear Admiral.

"American citizen, elite pilot, executed the most unpleasant missions with daring and good temperament. He downed, on 26 August 1918, his sixth enemy plane." Médaille Militaire citation.