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name
PALMER, Joseph F - Date of
birth
24 February 1920 -
Age
23 - Place of
birth
Pittsburg, Allegheny County, Pennsylvania -
Hometown
Allegheny County, Pennsylvania
Personal info
Military service
- Service
number
O-791142 -
Rank
First Lieutenant -
Function
Pilot -
Unit
360th Bombardment Squadron,
303rd Bombardment Group, Heavy
-
Awards
Air Medal with Oak Leaf Cluster
Death
-
Status
Killed in Action - Date of
death
25 June 1943 - Place of
death
Borgsweer, the Netherlands
Grave
-
Cemetery
American War Cemetery Margraten
| Plot | Row | Grave |
|---|---|---|
| N | 14 | 8 |
Immediate family
-
Members
Frank H. Palmer (father)
Mary C. (Jennessee) Palmer (mother)
Charles Palmer (brother)
Plane data
- Serial
number
42-5390 -
Data
Type: B-17F
Nickname: The Avenger
Destination: Hamburg, Germany
Mission: Bombing of the shipyards
More information
1st Lt. Joseph F. Palmer graduated from South Shore High School at the age of 16 in 1936. He graduated from Duquesne University with a major in Business and worked at Stratman accounting.He volunteered for the Air Corps of the Army of the United States as an aviation cadet in Pittsburg, Pennsylvania on 18 December 1941.
Because the primary target at Hamburg was obscured by clouds, scattered attacks were made on targets of opportunity in northwest Germany.
The airplane was shot down by enemy fighters. Three crew members survived and were taken prisoner, seven men were killed.
Notes about the pictures: the third picture shows Lt Parker as a 16 year old high school graduation student in 1936. The fourth picture shows him together with his brother Charles during a reunion in 1943 in England.
Source of information: Raf Dyckmans, Terry Hirsch, 303rd Bomb Group, www.ancestry.com - 1920-1940 Census/ Army Enlistment Records / Will, Jennesse, Connell & Summers Family Tree / Veteran Compensation Application File / 303rd Bomb Group, Heavy “Hell’s Angels” Mission Report 44, 25 June 1943
Photo source: Wendy Lensink, 303rd Bomb Group