Wing Commander Sidney Palmer
Lancaster navigator who flew bombing missions and ‘Cook’s Tours’ to photograph the damage
WING COMMANDER SIDNEY PALMER, who has died five weeks before his 100th birthday, flew 30 bombing operations in Lancasters and was awarded the DFC.
After completing his training in Canada, he attended a conversion course on the Lancaster in May 1944 when he teamed up with his pilot, Frank Watt. They were to fly together until the end of 1945.
Palmer joined 12 Squadron at Wickenby in Lincolnshire in July. His first operation was to Kiel on July 23, the first major Bomber Command raid on a German city for two months. The following day he attacked Stuttgart, the first of three heavy raids over a period of five nights.
When Palmer and his crew returned to Stuttgart on the night of July 28, the German air defence system had been alerted and attacked the bomber stream in force. Palmer’s aircraft was engaged by a Junkers 88 night fighter. One of the Lancaster’s four engines was set on fire and put out of action.
Its associated generator powered Palmer’s bombing and navigation radar – codenamed H2S – and he had to resort to navigating the aircraft on the long route back to base using astronavigation. His squadron leader wrote “good effort” on his navigation log. Losses on this raid were heavy, with eight per cent of the force shot down.
During early August, Palmer attacked oil installations in the Bordeaux area. On one occasion, the Lancaster was so low over the water on the approach to the target that it caused the wash from the propellers to generate a lot of spray, so much so that the rear gunner called out: “Hey, climb a bit! I’m getting absolutely soaked back here!”
Palmer flew sorties to provide support for the Allied armies in Normandy before their break-out from the area, including attacks against the German strongholds in the English Channel ports of Le Havre, Calais and Flushing.
During a raid on Essen, Palmer’s Lancaster was damaged by anti-aircraft fire which holed the pilot’s canopy. The resultant wind through the aircraft scattered his maps, but he recovered enough to navigate the aircraft on its return to base.
On November 6, Palmer and his crew bombed the synthetic-oil plant at Gelsenkirchen during a daylight raid.
Damage was extensive. This was his 30th and final operation, and he and his crew were rested. Shortly afterwards, it was announced that Palmer, and Frank Watt had been awarded the DFC.
Sidney Joseph Palmer was born in Reading on November 21 1922 and educated at the town’s Collier Central School. He joined the RAF in December 1941 and began training as a navigator in Canada. He graduated first in his class and was commissioned.
After completing his tour on 12 Squadron, he was posted to
RAF Ludford Magna near Lincoln, together with Frank Watt, to become the test crew with the No 14 Base Major Servicing Unit.
Lancasters from squadrons based in the area were flown to Ludford Magna for servicing and it was Watt and Palmer’s responsibility to air-test the aircraft and their navigation and bombing systems before returning the aircraft to their units. During their 12 months on the unit, they tested scores of Lancasters.
At the beginning of June 1945, they flew the first of many flights to photograph the damage to German cities and installations, known to many servicemen as “Cook’s Tours”.
These flights provided an opportunity for the ground staff to see the devastation wrought by the Allied bomber force. Palmer made his last flight in a Lancaster on October 30 1946.
In 1947, he transferred to the RAF Administration Branch. Among his many appointments he served in Germany for three years, and later as the senior accountant officer at RAF Kai Tak, Hong Kong. After working in the Air Ministry for the Director General of Manning, he served at RAF Lyneham, the RAF’S major base for the tactical air transport force, where he was responsible for the management and maintenance of the large estate and its infrastructure.
In October 1970 he became the commanding officer of RAF Brampton, the home of a major command headquarters and other specialised units. He was responsible for maintaining the large estate and providing all the support facilities for the senior commanders and their numerous staff.
After three years, he assumed command of the RAF Unit at the international headquarters of Nato’s Allied Air Forces Central Europe based in the Netherlands. For his services he was appointed OBE.
On his retirement from the RAF in 1977, he was appointed bursar at the Royal Northern College of Music in Manchester, a post he held for 12 years. In recognition of his services, he was awarded an honorary degree.
Palmer was very musical and learnt to play the saxophone in the outside lavatory at the end of the garden, since his father would not allow him to practise in the house. He later played in a swing band, performing at many dance halls. During the war, he sometimes played with an Ensa group and toured the country to entertain service audiences. He continued to play the saxophone for many years.
He was a passionate golfer with a handicap of 11, frequently playing abroad. He also loved working in his garden.
Sidney Palmer was twice widowed and is survived by his son.