Crew: Palmer

The pilot, Robert Palmer
The pilot, Robert Palmer

When their Lancaster ED923-V was shot down by a night fighter on 9th July 1943, the entire crew was killed.

Pilot:  F/O Robert Bertram Douglas Palmer
Flight Engineer: Sgt Charles Victor King
Navigator: F/O Ramesh Chandra Datta
Bomb Aimer: Sgt William Stephens
W/Op: Sgt Alan Raymond Harris
Mid-Upper Gunner: Sgt Dennis Charles Herbert Holding
Rear gunner: Sgt Douglas Cameron

Palmer Crew - (L-R) unknown, unknown, Harris, Palmer, Datta, unknown, King
Palmer Crew – (L-R) unknown, unknown, Harris, Palmer, Datta, unknown, King
Charles King, the Flight Engineer
Charles King, the Flight Engineer
Alan Harris, the W/OP
Alan Harris, the W/OP

DETAILS

ORB: 8/9 July 1943 Cologne – Bomb Load 4 x TI, 1 X 4000lb, 5 X 1000lb
ED923Y  F/O R.B.D.Palmer, Sgt C.V.King, F/O R.C.Datta, Sgts W.R.Stephens, A.R.Harris, D.C.Holding, D.Cameron.  1 x 4000lb 15 SBC.  Up 2316 – aircraft and crew missing.

Extract from Bomber Command LossesLancaster III  ED923  OF – V.  Op Cologne.  T/O 2316 Bourn.  Shot down by a night fighter (Lt Friedrich Erlinghagen 5/NJG1) and crashed at Bassenge (Liege) on the Geer, 14km NNE of Liege.  All were taken to St-Truiden for burial on 10 July, since when their remains have been brought to Heverlee War Cemetery.  F/O Datta of Calcutta was an associate of the Royal College of Science.

Ramesh Chandra Datta, the navigator
Ramesh Chandra Datta, the navigator
Datta, 2nd from right, with Princess Elizabeth and the Queen
Datta, 2nd from right, with Princess Elizabeth and the Queen