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PALMER, Rex Ian
Personal Details
| Service Number: | 21053 |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | 22 April 1940 |
| Last Rank: | Sergeant |
| Last Unit: | No. 3 Squadron (RAAF) |
| Born: | Randwick, New South Wales, Australia, 27 March 1913 |
| Home Town: | Merewether, Newcastle, New South Wales |
| Schooling: | Central Junior Technical School (1927-28) |
| Occupation: | Electrical Fitter |
| Died: | Accidental (Ground Accident), Castel Benito airfield, Libya, Middle East, 21 April 1943, aged 30 years |
| Cemetery: |
Enfidaville War Cemetery, Enfidaville, Tunisia Plot 11. Row F. Grave 25. |
| Memorials: | Australian War Memorial Roll of Honour, Brisbane No 3 Squadron Roll of Honour |
Service History
World War 2 Service
| 3 Sep 1939: | Involvement Sergeant, 21053 | |
|---|---|---|
| 22 Apr 1940: | Enlisted Royal Australian Air Force, Sergeant, 21053, No. 3 Squadron (RAAF) | |
| 22 Apr 1940: | Enlisted Royal Australian Air Force, Aircraftman, 21053 | |
| 1 Mar 1941: | Promoted Royal Australian Air Force, Corporal | |
| 1 Oct 1941: | Promoted Royal Australian Air Force, Sergeant | |
| 2 Apr 1942: | Embarked Royal Australian Air Force, Sergeant, 21053 | |
| 20 May 1942: | Involvement Royal Australian Air Force, Sergeant, 21053, No. 3 Squadron (RAAF), Middle East / Mediterranean Theatre |
Personal Stories
Help us honour Rex Ian Palmer's service by contributing information, stories, and images so that they can be preserved for future generations.
Add my storyBiography contributed by David Barlow
Sergeant Rex Ian Palmer 21053 (Electrical Fitter) suffered severe petrol burns while attempting to start a Caproni Ca164 aircraft that had been captured in January 1943 from the Italian Air Force when 3SQN took over Castel Benito airfield
On the 20th of April 1943 the engine back-fired, blowing flaming petrol over Rex Palmer - Tom Russell and Bob Dent put the flames out with their hands, but Rex was badly burned and died at 1135 the next day at Number 21 Medical Receiving Station RAF
https://www.3squadron.org.au/indexpages/kia.htm
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