2/Lt Percy Eric Palmer - 29th Squadron

[Neil Mackenzie]

2/Lt Percy Eric Palmer of 29th Squadron died on 17/7/1917.

Does anyone have any information on him and on the action in which he died?

Many thanks.

Neil

[Dolphin]

Neil

2Lt Percy Eric Palmer (formerly AIF, and discharged on 16 March 1917) was flying Nieuport 23 B3453 of No 29 Sqn RFC when killed in action on 17 July 1917. He had left Poperinghe aerodrome on a patrol at 1050 and was shot down after combat with enemy aeroplanes at about 1215. There are two German claims that might relate to B3453:

Ltn Alfred Niederhoff of Jasta 11 claimed a Nieuport over Noordschoote at 1215 - the 5th of his eventual 7 victories;

Ltn Walter Göttsch of Jasta 8 claimed a Nieuport south west of St Jean at 1150 - the 13th of his eventual 20 victories.

It looks like modern research is inclined to credit Ltn Niederdorff with the victory.

I hope that this helps

Gareth

[Neil Mackenzie]

Gareth.

Thanks for the reply. Because he was formerly in the AIF there is some useful informationon him available from the AWM site. This includes a Red Cross report from AFG Stafford who says Percy was on only his second 'stunt' having joined the 29th Squadron with him some 3-4 days earlier.

Neil

[Starlight]

Hi Neil,

Just a bit of additional information. Palmer's first 'stunt' in No 29 squadron the day before he died resulted in him crashing his aircraft after being hit by AA fire. From "Men Who Died . . " Percy Palmer came from Petersham in Sydney and was aged 20 when he died. He was buried at La Belle Alliance at Boesinghe in Belgium. From the Gazette database of 03/07/17 he was appointed 2nd lieutenant (on probation) in the Special Reserve, effective 09/06/17 and according to Chaz Bowyer's account of Number 29 squadron (in Cross and Cockade journal Vol 2 No 4 1971), he was shot down when he was attacked by a superior number of Albatros D III scouts.

Regards

Steve