VICTORIA CROSS

Greymouth Evening Star, 24 March 1945, Page 5

VICTORIA CROSS

MISSING AIRMAN’S GALLANTRY

RUGBY, March 23., The Victoria Cross has been awarded to Squadron Leader R. A. Palmer D.F.C., R.A.F.V.R., who has been missing after completing 110 bombing missions. . . , , , On his last mission against marshalling yards at Cologne in December, ] 944, in spite of the fact that two engines of his aircraft were on fare, and there were flames and smoke m the nose and in the bomb-bay he ignored the risk of fire and explosion m his determination, as leader of the mission, to provide an easily-seen target for the following aircraft. Disdaining the possibility of taking avoiding action against fighters he kept on his course making a perfect approach so that his bombs hit the target squarely. His aircraft was last seen spiralling to earth in flames. ’ The official citation ’ states that Palmer was an outstanding pilot and displayed conspicuous bravery. Palmer took part in the first 1000-bomber raid on Cologne in 1942, and was one of the first pilots to drop a 4000-lb bomb on Germany. He was always selected to take part in special operations against vital targets. The finest example of his courage and de- ! termination was on December 23, 1944, when he led a Lancaster formation to attack marshalling yards at Cologne in daylight. Such was thb strength of the opposition on this occasion that more than half of his formation failed to return.