Part 1 - family background with information on relatives and family photographs.
Part 2 - war service of Flying Officer James Gordon Bennett Burnside flight engineer. Covers training as flight engineer. Then follows short descriptions. listing…
Contains photographs of prisoners of war, notes, four pages of addresses, the contents of a parcels, postcards with cartoons of camp life and images of Father Christmas, as well as Jozef Nogal's bank balance.
Top left - shy but tough V.C. air ace picked for hardest jobs. Gives account of his 110th bombing operation leading a formation of Lancasters on daylight operation to Cologne from which he failed to return and actions resulted in award of VC. Top…
Three newspaper cuttings with varying accounts of background and actions of Robert Palmer leading to award of Victoria Cross. Note that he was missing after this operation which was his 111th operational flight. Headlines - Daily Mail the shy V.C.…
Top - now reveals that the operation for which Robert Palmer was posthumously awarded the Victoria Cross involved his use of highly secret "Oboe" which meant he had to fly straight and level while being engaged by enemy fighters and anti-aircraft…
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…
Left - always selected for vital targets - an outstanding pilot. Gives service background and description of action leading to award of Victoria Cross. Mentions 110 completed operations and final attack on Cologne where his aircraft failed to return,…
Top - V.C, led attack in blazing plane. Account of last operation leading attack on marshalling yard in Cologne from which he failed to return but was awarded the Victoria Cross. Left - New airman V.C. Always chosen for special operations. Some…
Top - Squadron Leader Robert A.M. Palmer V.C. Announces award of Victoria Cross after being reported missing after a particularly hazardous daylight operation over Cologne. Includes head and shoulder b/w photograph of Robert Palmer wearing…
Left - Squadron Leader R.A.M. Palmer V.C., D.F.C. & Bar. Father and brother receive medals. Article explains that Robert Palmers father received the Victoria Cross and his brother his Distinguished Flying Cross at investiture at Buckingham…
Top - V.C.'s contempt for the enemy, portrait of Kent hero unveiled. Article about unveiling and provides some of Palmer's service background and mentions funding of portrait and that there was some money left over. Includes photograph of unveiling…
The story of an attack by Pathfinders of 35,105,109 and 582 Squadrons 23 December 1944. Tribute to Robert pPalmer and thirty comrades who died with him. Contains history of Battle of the Bulge. Description of Oboe system. List of aircraft and crews…
Two pages removed from the Radio Times covering 6 May 1938. A central box draws attention to The Schools Music Festival being broadcast that afternoon from the Royal Albert Hall. Newspaper cuttings record the same event and lists the names of the…
Details of operation to Berlin on 15/16 February 1944. Gives numbers of Bomber Command aircraft involved for 1, 3, 4, 5, 6 and 8 Groups. Details other targets - spoof to Frankfurt, Mosquitos to Aachen and mine laying. Weather, Enemy raid reaction -…
Covers period 28 January 1944 to 4 February 1944. Lists units for long range bombers, long range recce, fighter bomber, twin engine fighters, tactical recce and coastal. Followed by short note of disposition of fighters on western front. Follows a…
Written by Ken Boyd the brother-in-law of a Bomber Command pilot Wilfred Comrie who was killed in a crash at RAF Pocklington in March 1943. Wilfred was an American who joined the RCAF in May 1941 and served on 102 Squadron. Ken Boyd was a first…
Outline map of England and north west Europe. Shows separate routes to Ludwigshafen on 5 January 1945 and Osterfeld on 11 December 1944. Both operations by day. Includes bomb load for both. On the reverse note 'Captain's of a/c map belonging to Ron…
Small cloth black dog mascot and text explanation. Belonged to donor's grandfather and had been in family for 74 years. Provides some other information in items donated.
First page annotated 'Unpublished writing by Charles Cuthill, publication rights please, Matt Nicol'. Continues with account of icing, flashes round the aircraft and static on the intercom. Difficult flying conditions and weather. Reference to…