Memorial

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After successfully dropping its bombs, the aircraft was on its return flight when its formation was attacked by numerous German fighter planes. During the ensuing air battle, this B-24 was badly damaged and several crew members were wounded. A fire started near the bomb bay and three crew members bailed out. These men survived and were taken prisoner. The remaining six crew members are believed to have gone down with the plane or were lost while attempting to bail out.

T/Sgt Palmer was officially declared dead one day and one year after he was reported missing in action.

Following the war, the crash site was discovered by the American Graves Registration Command outside Richelsdorf, Germany. An identification tag and human remains were discovered in 1951, but they could not be identified at the time and were interred as Unknowns. In 2015 and 2016, three DPAA recovery teams performed excavation operations at the site. Remains recovered from these excavations and those recovered in 1951 were consolidated and accessioned to the DPAA Laboratory. There, scientists used modern forensic techniques to identify Palmer.

On 30 January 2026, the Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency announced that T/Sgt Charles C. Palmer is accounted for.

He was given his final resting place at Sarasota National Cemetery, Florida on 8 June 2026.