There are many stories of great bravery as a result of action over occupied Europe during the Second World War; all are a test of human endurance pushing the human body to its limits and beyond. In some such cases, the recipient received the highest honour that could be bestowed on any member of the armed forces – the Victoria Cross.
One such award went to a Pathfinder, one of only three to go to the entire Group. Donald Bennett, the commander of 8 Group, himself even said he would not award such an accolade to any living person, it was not therefore given lightly, nor easily obtained.
In this instance the recipient was a pilot based at RAF Little Staughton on the Cambridgeshire – Bedfordshire border. It was a short lived airfield and only had two operational squadrons use it, both squadrons were part of the RAF’s Pathfinders.
This is his story.
Robert Anthony Maurice Palmer, the older brother of Douglas, was born on July 7th, 1920 in Gillingham, Kent, son of Arthur Palmer and Lilian Skuse. His father, Arthur Palmer, had served in the Essex and West Kent Regiments during the First World War before joining the fledgling Royal Air Force in May 1918. He would remain in the Air Force as an instructor at RAF Duxford until being demobbed the following year.
Arthur and his stories of flying, reinforced by the exploits of the 1920’s aviation pioneers, would inspire Robert, and fuel his desire to enter the world of flight himself. It was a desire that would enable him to fulfil his dreams but ultimately lead to his death.
After attending his first school, Cecil Road in Gravesend, Robert would join The County School for Boys, in Darnley Road, Gravesend, run then by the Reverend Samuel Lister.
Once his school life was over, Robert obtained his first job, joining the Borough’s Surveyor’s Office where he showed good potential before volunteering as a pilot for the Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserves on 22nd August 1939. Given the initial service number of 758016 (later 115772), Robert was awarded the initial rank of Aircraftsman II/ under training pilot. The following day he was promoted to the rank of sergeant, before being transferred from Hastings to Rochester, his first training post. Between then and June 1941, Robert worked through a number of training units starting with No.12 Flying Training School followed by No. 15 Officer Training School. During his short time here, he would gain good grades and show his true potential as a future pilot within the Royal Air Force.
Once qualified, Robert Palmer would be posted to his first operational squadron, 75 (New Zealand) Squadron flying Wellington ICs at RAF Feltwell in Norfolk, the date November 16th 1940.
The move was designed to give Robert the experience of life in an operational unit. Being shepherded by the experienced P. Off. Morton, he would gain a good understanding of the huge responsibilities a pilot in an operational unit would have. Whilst at Feltwell, Robert would continue to grow and show further good potential as a pilot now in Bomber Command.
Robert’s stay at Feltwell would last for just ten days, transferring to his own aircraft with 149 Squadron at RAF Mildenhall on the 26th of November. Here Robert would have to gather and mould a new crew, creating a camaraderie that would hopefully keep them both alive and together, through some of the worst battles that the RAF were likely to experience. The operational schedule was so intense that it would take just three months for them to complete their first tour of thirty operations.
Now as a seasoned pilot, he and his crew who had jelled together so well, were to be split, each one being posted to a different training unit where they could share their experiences and knowledge to other crewmen. Robert was sent to No. 200 Training Unit arriving in February 1941 where he remained for a year. Five months into the posting, he would be promoted to Temporary Flight Sergeant*1, a grade he remained at until January 28th 1942, at which point he was discharged on appointment to a Temporary Commission as Pilot Officer within the RAFVR, a promotion that came with another transfer to No. 20 Operational Training Unit (OTU) at Lossiemouth in Scotland, again as an instructor. This appointment was confirmed and he officially became a Flying Officer in October 1942.
Some ten days after his appointment, he was sent to No. 1501 Beam Approach Training Flight learning to land on instruments, a course that lasted a mere week, Robert then returned to 20 OTU where he remained as instructor for a further year. He, like many instructors, was keen to get back into operational flying, and pressed his superiors for a transfer back to a front line squadron.
It would be whilst at the OTU that Palmer would come into contact with Squadron Leader Ian Bazalgette DFC. another pilot who would go onto the be awarded the VC posthumously. Bazalgette recognised the potential of Palmer and put in a recommendation for his transfer to a front line unit.
Robert’s wish then came true. After a short spell training on Mosquitoes at the RAF Warboys based 1685 Mosquito Training Unit and the Pathfinders in early November 1943, he transferred out, being posted to 109 Squadron at RAF Marham, Norfolk, a front line squadron within the Pathfinders’ Group. Thirteen days after his arrival, he would be promoted again, this time to Flight Lieutenant.
The Pathfinders were commanded by Donald Bennett and were an ‘elite’ group of pilots and aircrew, who had proven themselves to be excellent flyers. Arthur Harris, the Commander in Chief of Bomber Command had been completely opposed to the idea of an elite unit, citing a drop in morale as the cream of his bomber squadrons would be taken away to form a new unit. But 8 Group came into being and Flt. Lt. Robert Palmer was soon one of them.
109 Squadron were about to receive the Mosquito XVI to supplement the Mk, IX they already had, and with both variants, the unit transferred from Marham to RAF Little Staughton on the Cambridgeshire / Bedfordshire border some 60 miles south-west. The move in April 1944 would be Robert’s final transfer.
As a Mosquito pilot, Robert would undertake many operations whilst here at Little Staughton, and in recognition of both his gallantry and his devotion to duty, he was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross (DFC) on June 30th, 1944. *2
It was then, a combination of this devotion to duty and the fact that he quickly reached the milestone of 100 operations, that led him to receive a second DFC in the form of a bar on his first; an accolade that acknowledged his determination to succeed and his skill as a pilot. *3
With two DFCs under his belt, Robert Palmer would soon receive his final promotion, being granted the rank of acting Squadron Leader on 10th December 1944.
December would prove to be the end of the line for Sqn. Ldr. Palmer though. After flying his last Mosquito operation on December 6th in ‘MM171’ to Osnabruck, he would soon change to Avro’s baby the Lancaster. On the 23rd, two days before Christmas, he was assigned to fly in a daylight raid to Gremberg, a daring raid that would use Oboe to pinpoint the target. As a Pathfinder, his role was to identify the target and drop markers/bombs for the following bombers to bomb on. It was a dangerous and daring mission and one which Sqn. Ldr. Palmer and his navigator Flight Lieutenant George Russell, would lead as Master Bomber in a 582 Sqn aircraft with Flight Lieutenant Owen Milne and his crew.
The morning was cold, wet and foggy, simply described as “miserable” by Bill Lanning*6. After dragging themselves out of bed and performing their morning ablutions, they headed off to the mess hall for a hearty breakfast of egg, bacon and beans, the standard morning feast for those flying on ops that day.
At briefing, the two crews met, Russell remaining quietly reserved whilst Palmer was introduced to Milne’s crew. The target was revealed and the various experts gave their reports: escort, weather, flak, bomb run etc.
By 09:30 briefing was over and the various crews made their way to the locker room and parachute stores to collect their belongings for the flight. The temperature was expected to be at -20oC, it would be very cold.
Palmer’s take off time was recorded as 10:27, but the mission was already doomed. Over England two Lancasters at the rear of the last flight, misjudged the distance between them and collided with the loss of both crews. Meanwhile, Palmer leading the operation, had become separated from the main formation, his two flights were alone and undefended as their escort raced to catch-up. Flying on Oboe meant they would have to fly both straight and level for fifteen minutes before they could drop their bombs, in daylight and clear skies this would be suicidal. The 6/10 cloud they had been promised didn’t materialise, and it was indeed clear and cloudless.
Flak came first. Very quickly the German gunners found their mark and aircraft were peppered with shrapnel. A reserve Pathfinder Mosquito flying alongside, went first and soon Palmer’s Lancaster was also hit. Two engines were quickly put out of action, flying controls were damaged and even though the aircraft was difficult to fly, Palmer maintained a straight and level approach. Four minutes from the target the Luftwaffe pounced. Determined not to let Palmer and his two flights through, they hounded the formation some of whom had by now, begin to scatter. Communications had all but broken down but still Palmer continued on. Although “burning fiercely” he successfully bombed from 17,500 ft, laying his eleven 1,000 lb general purpose bombs spot on the target.
Within seconds of dropping their explosive bomb load, Palmer’s aircraft took further devastating hits and it began to fall from the sky. All but one of the crew would die that day. A very short statement details their loss: “aircraft are missing”.*5
Palmer stayed at his station commanding the aircraft until the end, an act of selfless heroism and bravery trying to save his fellow crewmen before himself. For his actions he was awarded the Victoria Cross posthumously.
The 24 year-old’s citation appeared in the Fourth Supplement to The London gazette of March 20th 1945*4
“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 4,000 lb. bomb on the Reich. It was known that he could be relied on to press home his attack whatever the opposition and he bombed 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 the 23rd December, 1944, when he led a formation of Lancasters to attack the marshalling yards at Cologne in daylight. He had the 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 set 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. He knew that if he diverged the least bit from his course, he would be unable to utilise the special equipment to the best advantage. 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 its engines developing unequal power, an immense effort was 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 spiralling to earth in flames. Such was the strength of the opposition that more than half of his formation failed to return.
At 24 years old, Squadron Leader Palmer was an outstanding pilot. He displayed conspicuous bravery. His record of prolonged and heroic endeavour is beyond praise”.
Sqn. Ldr. Robert Anthony Maurice Palmer (s/n: 115772) was buried in the Commonwealth War Cemetery at Rheinberg, Plot: 14. Row: C. Grave: 13-14 along with the other’s in the crew.
In honour of Sqn. Ldr. Palmer, the Grammar School he attended continues to pay homage to his brave and selfless act by hanging both his portrait and his V.C. citation in the school hall. A nearby church, St Peter and St Paul Church located at East Milton Road, Milton, Gravesham has his name inscribed above the Lych Gate at the church entrance. He is also remembered at the Rheinberg War Cemetery, Germany. At his former home in Denton, a plaque was unveiled in 2006 by then mayor, Raymond Parker.
RAF Little Staughton appears in Trail 29.
Those on board that day were:
Pilot – Sqn Ldr. Robert Palmer VC, DFC and Bar; (RAFVR), age 24, s/n:115772
Pilot – Flt. Lt. Owen Strachan Milne, (RAFVR), s/n: 132625
Navigator – Sqn Ldr. Albert Leslie Carter, DFC, (RAF), age 29, s/n:44553
Navigator – Flt. Lt. George Russell DFC, (RAFVR), age 21, s/n:129583
Wireless Op. – Flt. Sgt. Bert Nundy, (RAFVR) age 21, s/n: 1671822
Gunner – Fl. Off. William Dalgarno, (RAFVR), s/n:161283
Gunner – Flt. Sgt. R K Yeulett (RCAF), (survived taken as POW)
Sources and further reading.
*1 The London Gazette, Issue 35531, page 1754, dated April 21st 1942.
*3 The London Gazette, Issue 36831, Page 5634, dated 8th December 1944
*5 National Archives Operational Record Books 109 Squadron December 1944 AIR 27/855/9
*6 Lanning, Bill. A personal account recorded for The International Bomber Command Centre, which also includes other eyewitness and personal accounts of that day.
National Archives: AIR 27/855/10
Feast, S., “Heroic Endeavour“, Grub Street Publications, 2006
RAF Pathfinders Archive Website.
Commonwealth War Graves Commission website.
Kent online newspaper website 17th December 2019
Gravesend Grammar School Commemorative Archive website
IBCC website