Palmer, Robert Anthony Maurice
- Date of birth:
- July 7th, 1920 (Gillingham/Kent, Great Britain)
- Date of death:
- December 23rd, 1944 (Cologne, Germany)
- Buried on:
- Commonwealth War Cemetery Rheinberg
Plot: 14. Row: C. Grave: 13-14. - Service number:
- 758016 (NCO)/115772 (Officer)
- Nationality:
- British
Biography
Promotions:
?: Temporary Flight Sergeant;
29th January 1942: Pilot Officer on probation (emergency);
1st October 1942: Flying Officer on probation (war subs);
?: Flying Officer;
29th January 1944: Flight Lieutenant (war subs.).
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Distinguished Flying Cross (DFC)
- Period:
- Second World War (1939-1945)
- Rank:
- Flight Lieutenant
- Unit:
- No. 109 Squadron, Royal Air Force
- Awarded on:
- June 30th, 1944
- Period:
- Second World War (1939-1945)
- Rank:
- Flight Lieutenant
- Unit:
- No. 109 Squadron, Royal Air Force
- Awarded on:
- December 8th, 1944
"Since the award of the D.F.C. this officer has continued to operate with unremitting zeal and enthusiasm, successfully completing a large number of operational sorties He has invariably pressed home his attacks regardless of enemy opposition, displaying courage and great devotion to duty."
Second DFC received in the form of a bar to be worn on the ribbon of the first DFC.
- Period:
- Second World War (1939-1945)
- Rank:
- Squadron Leader
- Unit:
- No. 109 Squadron, Royal Air Force
- Awarded on:
- May 23rd, 1945
Citation:
"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."
"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."
Sources
- Photo 1: Family of R.A.M. Palmer
- Photo 2: TracesOfWar.com
- - The London Gazette of 21st April 1942, Issue 35531
- Second Supplement to The London Gazette of 17th November 1942, Issue 35791, dated 20th November 1942
- Fourth Supplement to The London Gazette of 1st February 1944, Issue 36361, dated 4th February 1944
- Fourth Supplement to The London Gazette of 27th June 1944, Issue 36589, dated 30th June 1944
- Fourth Supplement to The London Gazette of 5th December 1944, Issue 36831, dated 8th December 1944
- Commonwealth War Graves Commission
- Victoria Cross Reference
- The Register of the Victoria Cross - published by This Engeland 1997 - ISBN 0906324270
- Special thanks to Iain Stewart from The History of the Victoria Cross
- Flight Magazine, January 18th, 1945
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