Australian Groups

Lot 3528    Session 12 (11.30am Thursday)    Australian Groups

Estimate $6,500
Bid at live.noble.com.au
SOLD $7,000

GROUP OF SIX: Air Force Cross (GVIR) (Type II); 1939-45 Star; Pacific Star; British War Medal 1939-45; Australia Service Medal 1939-45; General Service Medal - bar - S.E.Asia 1945-46. '1949' engraved on AFC, 418675 E.C.Palmer on all other medals. Second to sixth medals impressed. Very fine.

Edward Charles Palmer, F/Lieut RAAF. Enl.29May1942 Melbourne Dis.04Feb1952. AFC.L.G.: 01Jan1949 'Light Lieutenant Palmer has flown a total of 2250 hours as a pilot in the Royal Australian Air Force. He has flown appoximately 600 hours as a Service Flying Instructor and the remainder has been on Transport duties, including 500 hours as Captain of V.I.P. 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 personages as His Excellency, the Governor General of Australia, the Prime Minister of Australia, Cabinet Ministers and the Chiefs of the Navy and Army. At all times he has accomplished these flights with the utmost efficiency and has set a fine example for other members of the unit. On July 18th, 1947, he was Captain and first pilot of a Dakota aircraft carrying a heavy load of freight on a flight from Amberley to Laverton. During the hours of darkness and whilst 100 miles from Laverton at 9000 feet the port engine developed an oil leak 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 Essendon Aerodromw because hw was doubtful of being able to reach Laverton. At a height of 3000 feetthe port engine seized and stopped rotating thereby increasing the rate of descent. The aircraft was at a height of 1500 feet when Essendon was reached but despite the difficult conditions the pilot, by his skill and coolness 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'. With some research.