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Squadron Leader ROBERT ANTHONY MAURICE PALMER

Service Number: 115772
Regiment & Unit/Ship

Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve

109 Sqdn.

Date of Death

Died 23 December 1944

Age 24 years old

Buried or commemorated at

RHEINBERG WAR CEMETERY

Joint grave 14. C. 13-14.

Germany

Commonwealth War Graves Commission - Headstone Placeholder
  • Country of Service United Kingdom
  • Awards Victoria Cross, Distinguished Flying Cross and Bar, Mentioned in Despatches
  • Additional Info Son of Arthur Robert and Lillian Palmer, of Gravesend, Kent; brother of Douglas Palmer.
  • Personal Inscription 'A LONELY IMPULSE OF DELIGHT DROVE TO THIS TUMULT IN THE CLOUDS'
  • Additional Citation note

    The following is taken from the London Gazette of March 20th 1945 :- This officer had completed 110 bombing missions. Most of them involved deep penetration of heavily defended territory; many were low-level "marking" operations against vital targets; all were executed with tenacity, high courage and great accuracy, so that he was invariably selected for particularly important missions. The finest example of his courage and determination was on December 23rd 1944, when he led a formation of Lancasters to attack the marshalling yards at Cologne in daylight. Before the target was reached heavy anti-aircraft fire was encountered and two of his plane's engines were set on fire. Squadron Leader Palmer ignored the double risk of fire and explosion in his aircraft and kept on. He made a perfect approach and his bombs hit the target. His aircraft was last seen spiralling to the earth in flames. Squadron Leader Palmer was an outstanding pilot. He displayed conspicuous bravery. His record of prolonged and heroic endeavour is beyond praise.

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