Missing on 111th raid VC

Missing on 111th raid VC

Gives some family and local background as well as account of actions during operation to Cologne during which his aircraft was shot down and resulted in award of Victoria Cross. Includes b/w portrait photograph.

1945-03

One newspaper cutting on an album page

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SPalmerRAM115772v10013

[inserted] MIRROR March 24th 1945 [/inserted]

Missing on 111th raid – VC
At 24 he was 'tough jobs' ace

AT the age of twenty-four Robert Anthony Maurice Palmer, of the RAFVR, was an acting squadron-leader, twice winner of the D.F.C., a veteran of 110 bombing missions, who was always selected for operations where desperate danger had to be ignored to get results.

A grim assignment over Cologne was his 111th mission. It won him the V.C.

But Squadron-Leader Palmer is missing. His plane went down in flames after he and his crew had marked their target in the face of savage ack-ack and the cannon shells of enemy fighters.

The V.C. – 134th of the war – was announced yesterday. And last night his parents, at their home in Bellman-avenue, Gravesend, told the [italics] Daily Mirror [/italics] that they still hoped Bob "would get through."

His father, who served in the RFC in the last war, said: "He came through so many times before. My wife and I refuse to give up hope that he will come back again – smiling as always."

[missing letter]ob Palmer went to school in Gravesend and started work in the borough engineer's office.

Mr. Frank Jennings, the chief clerk said:

"The nicest thing you could say about him wouldn't be too good.

"He would never talk about his exploits in the R.A.F.

"He came into the office one day with a rather nasty scar on his chin, and I said: 'Hullo [sic], what's been happening to you?'

"He replied with a perfectly straight face: 'Well, as a matter of fact, I took another fellow's girl out, and he happened to spot me.'

“His young brother, now a sergeant-pilot, told me later that Bob had narrowly escaped being killed in a crash."

The V.C. citation stated: "This officer has completed 110 bombing missions.

"It was known that he could be relied on to press home his attack, whatever the opposition, and to bomb with great accuracy. He was always selected, therefore, to take part in special operations against vital targets."

The V.C. operation was on December 23 last year, when he led a formation of Lancasters in a daylight raid on the Cologne marshalling yards. The other planes had been ordered to bomb as soon as the leader's bombs had gone.

Palmer had to be dead accurate. He had to fly at a precise height at a precise speed on a steady course.

He did this though shells burst all round the plane and set two engines on fire. He did it though enemy fighters attacked in force.

"Squadron-Leader Palmer disdained the possibility of taking avoiding action," said the citation . . .

"He made a perfect approach and his bombs hit the target.

"His aircraft was last seen spiralling to the earth.

[photograph]
Flight-Lieutenant R.A.M. Palmer, V.C.