Newspaper cuttings - heroism beyond praise of new air V.C.; Squadron Leader R.A.M. Palmer V.C. DFC & Bar; and Squadron Leader Robert A.M. Palmer V.C.
Title
Newspaper cuttings - heroism beyond praise of new air V.C.; Squadron Leader R.A.M. Palmer V.C. DFC & Bar; and Squadron Leader Robert A.M. Palmer V.C.
Description
Top left - heroism beyond praise of new air V.C, in blazing Lancaster he scorned danger and flew on to target. Gives some service and family background and describes actions during operation to Cologne from which he failed to return but led to award of Victoria Cross. Top right - Sqn Ldr R.A.M. Palmer VC, DFC and bar, father and brother receive medals. Covers investiture where Palmers posthumous Victoria Cross was received by his father and the Distinguished Flying Cross by his brother Cadet D.G.F Palmer RAF. Bottom - Sqn Ldr Robert A.M. Palmer V.C. Mentions V.C awarded to Palmer who completed more than 100 operations and was reported missing after hazardous daylight operation to Cologne. Include b/w photograph of Robert Palmer in uniform.
Date
1945-12-18
Spatial Coverage
Language
Type
Format
Three newspaper cuttings on an album page
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
SPalmerRAM115772v10026
Transcription
[inserted] Evening Telegraph [/inserted]
[underlined] IN A BLAZING LANCASTER, HE SCORNED DANGER, FLEW ON TO TARGET [/underlined]
Heroism Beyond Praise Of New Air V.C.
Twenty-four-year-old Acting Squadron Leader Robert Anthony Maurice Palmer, R.A.F.V.R., 109 Squadron, who was always selected for special operations against vital targets, has been awarded the V.C.
Palmer, a double D.F.C., whose home is at Gravesend, was reported missing after he had made a superb and accurate attack in a blazing Lancanster [sic] on the marshalling yards at Cologne. His plane was last seen spiralling to earth in flames.
The citation reads:-
"This officer has completed 110 bombing missions. 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 1000-bomber raid against Cologne in 1942. He was one of the first pilots to drop a 4000 lb. bomb on the Reich.
"It was known he could be relied on to press home his attack whatever the opposition.”
Two Engines On Fire.
Dealing with the action which won the V.C. the citation says:-
"The finest example of his courage and determination was on 23rd December, 1944, when he led a formation of Lancasters to attack the marshalling yards at Cologne in daylight.
"Some minutes before the target was reached his aircraft came under heavy anti-aircraft fire. Two engines were set on fire.
"Enemy fighters attacked in force. Squadron Leader Palmer disdained the possibility of taking avoiding action.
"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. His bombs hit the target.
"Such was the strength of the opposition that more than half of his formation failed to return.
"Squadron Leader Palmer's record of prolonged and heroic endeavour is beyond praise.
Ideal Type.
"Wing Commander R.C. Cobbe, his squadron commander, in a tribute, said he was the type of officer whom every squadron commander wants to have in his squadron, but few have the good fortune to find.
"It is certain that on the last operation having released his bombs his greatest concern was for the safety of his crew, who so magnificently supported him on his last sortie."
This is the 134th V.C. of the present war, and the 23rd awarded to members of the R.A.F.
[page break]
[photograph]
SQUADRON LEADER ROBERT A.M. PALMER, V.C.
The V.C. has been awarded to Acting Squadron Leader Palmer, an R.A.F. bomber pilot, who had completed more than 100 missions and who was reported missing after a particularly hazardous daylight operation over Cologne last December. The finest example of his courage and determination was on December 23, 1944, when he led a formation of Lancasters to the marshalling yards at Cologne. With his aircraft on fire, he disdained the possibility of taking avoiding action and kept on to bomb the target. His aircraft was last seen diving to earth.
[page break]
[inserted] 18 DECEMBER 1945 [/inserted]
Squadron-Leader R.A.M. PALMER, V.C., DFC. & Bar
FATHER & BROTHER RECEIVE MEDALS
"Grand Record," States His Majesty
The King on Tuesday morning at Buckingham Palace handed to the relatives of officers and men killed on active service, as next of kin, the decorations and medals which had been awarded.
The Victoria Cross post-humously awarded to Squadron Leader Robert Anthony Maurice Palmer, D.F.C., and Bar was received by his father, Mr. A.R.F. Palmer, 52, Bellman-avenue, Gravesend, and the Distinguished Flying Cross and Bar by his younger brother, Cadet D.G.F. Palmer, R.A.F., who graduates at Cranwell to-day (Friday).
"The King shook hands with me," Mr. Palmer told our representative, "and asked about Bob's length of service. When I told him His Majesty remarked: 'He had a grand record.' The King then asked about my service, and when I told him I served in the Royal Flying Corps in the 1914-18 war and as an Air Training Corps instructor during the recent war the King said, 'A very fine record.' "
Mr. Palmer said the King also shook hands with Douglas when he received his brother's D.F.C. and Bar.
Also at the Investiture were the father and mother of Flight Lieut. O. Milne, associate pilot with Squadron Leader Palmer, who had travelled from Scotland to receive their son's D.F.C.
[underlined] IN A BLAZING LANCASTER, HE SCORNED DANGER, FLEW ON TO TARGET [/underlined]
Heroism Beyond Praise Of New Air V.C.
Twenty-four-year-old Acting Squadron Leader Robert Anthony Maurice Palmer, R.A.F.V.R., 109 Squadron, who was always selected for special operations against vital targets, has been awarded the V.C.
Palmer, a double D.F.C., whose home is at Gravesend, was reported missing after he had made a superb and accurate attack in a blazing Lancanster [sic] on the marshalling yards at Cologne. His plane was last seen spiralling to earth in flames.
The citation reads:-
"This officer has completed 110 bombing missions. 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 1000-bomber raid against Cologne in 1942. He was one of the first pilots to drop a 4000 lb. bomb on the Reich.
"It was known he could be relied on to press home his attack whatever the opposition.”
Two Engines On Fire.
Dealing with the action which won the V.C. the citation says:-
"The finest example of his courage and determination was on 23rd December, 1944, when he led a formation of Lancasters to attack the marshalling yards at Cologne in daylight.
"Some minutes before the target was reached his aircraft came under heavy anti-aircraft fire. Two engines were set on fire.
"Enemy fighters attacked in force. Squadron Leader Palmer disdained the possibility of taking avoiding action.
"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. His bombs hit the target.
"Such was the strength of the opposition that more than half of his formation failed to return.
"Squadron Leader Palmer's record of prolonged and heroic endeavour is beyond praise.
Ideal Type.
"Wing Commander R.C. Cobbe, his squadron commander, in a tribute, said he was the type of officer whom every squadron commander wants to have in his squadron, but few have the good fortune to find.
"It is certain that on the last operation having released his bombs his greatest concern was for the safety of his crew, who so magnificently supported him on his last sortie."
This is the 134th V.C. of the present war, and the 23rd awarded to members of the R.A.F.
[page break]
[photograph]
SQUADRON LEADER ROBERT A.M. PALMER, V.C.
The V.C. has been awarded to Acting Squadron Leader Palmer, an R.A.F. bomber pilot, who had completed more than 100 missions and who was reported missing after a particularly hazardous daylight operation over Cologne last December. The finest example of his courage and determination was on December 23, 1944, when he led a formation of Lancasters to the marshalling yards at Cologne. With his aircraft on fire, he disdained the possibility of taking avoiding action and kept on to bomb the target. His aircraft was last seen diving to earth.
[page break]
[inserted] 18 DECEMBER 1945 [/inserted]
Squadron-Leader R.A.M. PALMER, V.C., DFC. & Bar
FATHER & BROTHER RECEIVE MEDALS
"Grand Record," States His Majesty
The King on Tuesday morning at Buckingham Palace handed to the relatives of officers and men killed on active service, as next of kin, the decorations and medals which had been awarded.
The Victoria Cross post-humously awarded to Squadron Leader Robert Anthony Maurice Palmer, D.F.C., and Bar was received by his father, Mr. A.R.F. Palmer, 52, Bellman-avenue, Gravesend, and the Distinguished Flying Cross and Bar by his younger brother, Cadet D.G.F. Palmer, R.A.F., who graduates at Cranwell to-day (Friday).
"The King shook hands with me," Mr. Palmer told our representative, "and asked about Bob's length of service. When I told him His Majesty remarked: 'He had a grand record.' The King then asked about my service, and when I told him I served in the Royal Flying Corps in the 1914-18 war and as an Air Training Corps instructor during the recent war the King said, 'A very fine record.' "
Mr. Palmer said the King also shook hands with Douglas when he received his brother's D.F.C. and Bar.
Also at the Investiture were the father and mother of Flight Lieut. O. Milne, associate pilot with Squadron Leader Palmer, who had travelled from Scotland to receive their son's D.F.C.
Collection
Citation
“Newspaper cuttings - heroism beyond praise of new air V.C.; Squadron Leader R.A.M. Palmer V.C. DFC & Bar; and Squadron Leader Robert A.M. Palmer V.C.,” IBCC Digital Archive, accessed April 27, 2025, https://ibccdigitalarchive.lincoln.ac.uk/omeka/collections/document/38283.
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