Lot 1046

Description

Group of six:- Air Force Cross (1949); 1939-45 Star; Pacific Star; British War Medal 1939-45; Australia Service Medal; General Service Medal 1918 - one bar: S. E. Asia 1945-46, E.C. Palmer. First unnamed, others impressed, name on stars lightly struck. Very fine.

Last medal not common to the RAAF. Together with: copy of official citation and career details. Lieutenant Edward Charles Palmer RAAF AFC L.G. 1 Jan 49: Flight Lieutenaqnd PALMER has flown a totoal of 2250 hours as a pilot in the Royal Australian Air Force, he has flown ap[proximately 690 hours as a Service Flying Instructor and the remainder has been on Transport duties, including 500 hours as Captain of V.I.F, Dakotas. During the last six months he has flown 114 hours on V.I.P. duties. For the last eighteen months he has been employed on V.I.P. flying duties and has flown such peronages as His Excellency, The Governor General of Australia, The Prime Minister of Australia, Cabinet Minister and the CHeifs of the Navy and Army. At all times he has accomplished these flights with the utmost officiency and has set a fine example for other members of the Unit. On July 18th, 1947, he was Captain and first pilot af a Dakota aircraft carrying a heavy lead of freight on a flight from Amberley to Laverton. During the hours of darkness and whilst 100 miles from Laverton at 9000 feet th port engine developed an oil leek and the oil pressure began to fall rapidly. Flight Lieutenant Palmer endeavoured to feather the port airscrew but found that it would not feather. The aircraft began to lose height and the pilot decided to alter course for Essenden Aerodrome because he was doubtful of being able to reach Laverton. At height of 3000 feet the port engine seized and stopped rotating thereby increasing the rate of descent. The aircraft was at a height of 1500 feet when Essenden was reached, but despite the difficult conditions the pilot, by his skill and coolmess in the face of adversity, displayed expert judgement and airmanship and executed a single engine landing at night with no damage to the aircraft or injury to himself or his crew.