PALMER, Geoffrey Robert
| Service Number: | 415820 |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | 1 February 1942 |
| Last Rank: | Flying Officer |
| Last Unit: | No. 223 Squadron (RAF) |
| Born: | Darlington, Western Australia, 23 July 1922 |
| Home Town: | Claremont, Western Australia |
| Schooling: | Perth Modern School, Western Australia, 1938-39 |
| Occupation: | Bank Clerk |
| Died: | Flying Battle, Belgium, 14 January 1945, aged 22 years |
| Cemetery: |
Leopoldsburg War Cemetery, Flanders, Belgium I. B. 14 |
| Memorials: | Australian War Memorial Roll of Honour, Fremantle Commonwealth Bank of Australia West Australian Staff WW2 Honour Roll, International Bomber Command Centre Memorial, Subiaco Perth Modern School WW2 Honour Board |
World War 2 Service
| 3 Sep 1939: | Involvement Flying Officer, 415820 | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 Feb 1942: | Enlisted Royal Australian Air Force, Flying Officer, 415820 | |
| 4 Feb 1943: | Promoted Royal Australian Air Force, Pilot Officer, See service history on pages 6 to 8 at https://recordsearch.naa.gov.au/SearchNRetrieve/Interface/ViewImage.aspx?B=5258975 | |
| 4 Aug 1943: | Promoted Royal Australian Air Force, Flying Officer | |
| 14 Jan 1945: | Involvement Royal Australian Air Force, Flying Officer, 415820, No. 223 Squadron (RAF) , KIA in Liberator TT336 over Belgium. |
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Add my storyBiography contributed by Chris Buckley
'He loved life and beauty, but liberty above all these thigs' (Inscription: Commonwealth War Graves Commission). Geoff (b1923 in Perth WA) was the youngest of four children of Cecil George Palmer (b1887 in Leicestershire, England) and Valentine Grant Carter (b1890 in New Zealand). Cecil (a Teacher) and Valentine married in 1911 in Fremantle WA and lived in Claremont, Darlington and Northam where Cecil was a Teacher. Following Cecil's death in 1928, Valentine settled in Fremantle WA and raised her family.
In December 1940 Geoff - a Bank Clerk with the Commonwealth Bank - enlisted in the Militia, serving with 44th Battalion and 9 Anti Tank Regiment. He Discharged to enlist in the RAAF in February 1942 (Service No:415820). Geoff completed his initial training at Pearce, then attended 9 Elemantary Flying Training School Cunderdin in June 1942, before attending 2 Air Observer School Mt Gambier in August 1942. In February 1943 he was promoted to Pilot Officer and in August 1943 to Flying Officer. Geoff was attached to Air Crew Officer School, Sidmouth UK in December 943 and RAF Station Ballykelly in October 1944. He undertook Air Patrols over the Bay of Biscay and Atlantic Ocean and other coastal operations. He died of injuries in hospital on 14 January 1945.
'Liberator TT336 took off from RAF Oulton at 1606 hrs on the night of 14 January 1945, for Jostle (airborne radar jamming) duties in support of the Grevenbroich raid ..... It crashed on 14 January near Meerhout (Antwerpen) a small town some 8 kms south east of Greel. Eight of the crew were killed and Flying Officer Palmer who was injured died of his injuries in hospital on 14 January 1945. (Aviation Heritage Museum).
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