Newspaper cutting - RAF always chose Kent V.C. for special tasks
Title
Newspaper cutting - RAF always chose Kent V.C. for special tasks
Description
States that Acting Squadron Leader Robert Antony Maurice Palmer previously winner of DFC and became Kent's sixth V.C of that war. Gives some personal and operational background and gives account of operation to Cologne which resulted in award of Victoria Cross. Continues with more personal and family background and comments from his headmaster.
Date
1945-03-30
Language
Type
Format
Two part newspaper cutting
Publisher
Rights
This content is available under a CC BY-NC 4.0 International license (Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0). It has been published ‘as is’ and may contain inaccuracies or culturally inappropriate references that do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of the University of Lincoln or the International Bomber Command Centre. For more information, visit https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/ and https://ibccdigitalarchive.lincoln.ac.uk/omeka/legal.
Contributor
Identifier
SPalmerRAM115772v10018
Transcription
KENT MESSENGER, MARCH 30, 1945
R.A.F. ALWAYS CHOSE KENT V.C. FOR SPECIAL TASKS
“His Record of Heroic Endeavour Is Beyond Praise”
[Page Break]
WINNER of the D.F.C. and bar in less than six months last year, Acting Squadron Leader Robert Anthony Maurice Palmer, of Gravesend, now missing, is Kent’s sixth V.C. of this war.
The award was announced on Friday.
A bomber pilot, he has completed more than 100 bombing missions and was reported missing after a hazardous daylight operation over Cologne last December.
Born at Gillingham in 1920, Acting Squadron Leader Palmer is the elder son of Mr. and Mrs. A.R.F. Palmer, 52, Bellman Avenue, Gravesend.
Mr. Palmer was a pilot in the last war.
“His record of prolonged and heroic endeavour is beyond praise.”
These are the last words of the citation which marks one of the grandest stories of valour in this war.
TENACITY AND COURAGE
It reads:-
“This officer has 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.
He first went on operations in January, 1941. He took part in the first 1,000-bomber raid against Cologne in 1942. He was one of the first pilots to drop a 4,000lb. bomb on the Reich.
“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 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.
ENGINES ABLAZE
“He had a task of marking the target, and his formation had been ordered to bomb as soon as the bombs had gone from his, the leading aircraft.
The leader’s duties during the final bombing run were exacting and demanded coolness and resolution. To achieve accuracy he would have to fly at an exact height and air speed on a steady course, regardless of opposition.
“Some minutes before the target was reached, his aircraft came under heavy anti-aircraft fire, shells burst all around, two engines were set on fire, and there were flames and smoke in the nose and in the bomb bay.
Enemy fighters now attacked in force. Squadron-Leader Palmer disdained the possibility of taking avoiding action.
BOMBS HIT THE TARGET
“He knew that if he diverged the least bit from his course he would be unable to utilise the special equipment to the best advantages. He was determined to complete the run and provide an accurate and easily seen aiming point for the other bombers.
He ignored the double risk of fire and explosion in his aircraft and kept on.
“With his engines developing unequal power, an immense effort and needed to keep the damaged aircraft on a straight course. Nevertheless he made a perfect approach and his bombs hit the target.
“His aircraft was last seen
[Photograph]
SQDN. LEADER PALMER.
spiralling to earth in flames. Such was the strength of the opposition that more than half of his formation failed to return.
“Squadron Leader Palmer was an outstanding pilot. He displayed conspicuous bravery. His record of prolonged and heroic endeavour is beyond praise.”
JOINED UP BEFORE THE WAR
Squadron Leader Palmer was awarded the D.F.C. on June 30th 1944, and the Bar to the D.F.C. on December 8th.
He was educated at Gordon School, Gravesend, and Gravesend County School. On leaving school he was employed in the office of the Gravesend Borough Surveyor.
He joined the R.A.F.V.R. before the war and was commissioned in 1942.
The Rev. S. Lister, headmaster of Gravesend County School, told a reporter; ‘Palmer was a boy of fine character, quiet and determined, a leader, and popular with his fellows.
“He was a very happy boy, and enjoyed every minute of his school life.
“He took a great interest in the school flight of the A.T.C. in which his brother, now an officer cadet in the R.A.F. was a sergeant.”
Acting Squadron-Leader Palmer’s father, an official of the Ministry of Labour at Northfleet, was for some time an officer in the 402 (Gravesend) Squadron. A.T.C.
MAYOR CONSIDERING PUBLIC RECOGNITION
The Mayor of Gravesend has announced that he is in consultation with friends concerning the best way to perpetuate Gravesend’s own V.C.
R.A.F. ALWAYS CHOSE KENT V.C. FOR SPECIAL TASKS
“His Record of Heroic Endeavour Is Beyond Praise”
[Page Break]
WINNER of the D.F.C. and bar in less than six months last year, Acting Squadron Leader Robert Anthony Maurice Palmer, of Gravesend, now missing, is Kent’s sixth V.C. of this war.
The award was announced on Friday.
A bomber pilot, he has completed more than 100 bombing missions and was reported missing after a hazardous daylight operation over Cologne last December.
Born at Gillingham in 1920, Acting Squadron Leader Palmer is the elder son of Mr. and Mrs. A.R.F. Palmer, 52, Bellman Avenue, Gravesend.
Mr. Palmer was a pilot in the last war.
“His record of prolonged and heroic endeavour is beyond praise.”
These are the last words of the citation which marks one of the grandest stories of valour in this war.
TENACITY AND COURAGE
It reads:-
“This officer has 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.
He first went on operations in January, 1941. He took part in the first 1,000-bomber raid against Cologne in 1942. He was one of the first pilots to drop a 4,000lb. bomb on the Reich.
“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 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.
ENGINES ABLAZE
“He had a task of marking the target, and his formation had been ordered to bomb as soon as the bombs had gone from his, the leading aircraft.
The leader’s duties during the final bombing run were exacting and demanded coolness and resolution. To achieve accuracy he would have to fly at an exact height and air speed on a steady course, regardless of opposition.
“Some minutes before the target was reached, his aircraft came under heavy anti-aircraft fire, shells burst all around, two engines were set on fire, and there were flames and smoke in the nose and in the bomb bay.
Enemy fighters now attacked in force. Squadron-Leader Palmer disdained the possibility of taking avoiding action.
BOMBS HIT THE TARGET
“He knew that if he diverged the least bit from his course he would be unable to utilise the special equipment to the best advantages. He was determined to complete the run and provide an accurate and easily seen aiming point for the other bombers.
He ignored the double risk of fire and explosion in his aircraft and kept on.
“With his engines developing unequal power, an immense effort and needed to keep the damaged aircraft on a straight course. Nevertheless he made a perfect approach and his bombs hit the target.
“His aircraft was last seen
[Photograph]
SQDN. LEADER PALMER.
spiralling to earth in flames. Such was the strength of the opposition that more than half of his formation failed to return.
“Squadron Leader Palmer was an outstanding pilot. He displayed conspicuous bravery. His record of prolonged and heroic endeavour is beyond praise.”
JOINED UP BEFORE THE WAR
Squadron Leader Palmer was awarded the D.F.C. on June 30th 1944, and the Bar to the D.F.C. on December 8th.
He was educated at Gordon School, Gravesend, and Gravesend County School. On leaving school he was employed in the office of the Gravesend Borough Surveyor.
He joined the R.A.F.V.R. before the war and was commissioned in 1942.
The Rev. S. Lister, headmaster of Gravesend County School, told a reporter; ‘Palmer was a boy of fine character, quiet and determined, a leader, and popular with his fellows.
“He was a very happy boy, and enjoyed every minute of his school life.
“He took a great interest in the school flight of the A.T.C. in which his brother, now an officer cadet in the R.A.F. was a sergeant.”
Acting Squadron-Leader Palmer’s father, an official of the Ministry of Labour at Northfleet, was for some time an officer in the 402 (Gravesend) Squadron. A.T.C.
MAYOR CONSIDERING PUBLIC RECOGNITION
The Mayor of Gravesend has announced that he is in consultation with friends concerning the best way to perpetuate Gravesend’s own V.C.
Collection
Citation
“Newspaper cutting - RAF always chose Kent V.C. for special tasks,” IBCC Digital Archive, accessed April 18, 2024, https://ibccdigitalarchive.lincoln.ac.uk/omeka/collections/document/38276.
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