John Frederick PALMER

PALMER, John Frederick

Service Number: 2130
Enlisted: 27 April 1936
Last Rank: Corporal
Last Unit: No. 2 Squadron (RAAF)
Born: Maryborough, Victoria, Australia, 10 August 1911
Home Town: Coburg, Moreland, Victoria
Schooling: Not yet discovered
Occupation: Not yet discovered
Died: Aircraft accident, Canberra, Australian Capital Territory, Australia , 13 August 1940, aged 29 years
Cemetery: Melbourne General Cemetery, Carlton
R.C. Plot. Sec. EE. Grave 138 (GRM/3), Melbourne General Cemetery, Carlton, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
Memorials: Australian War Memorial Roll of Honour, No 2 Squadron RAAF Roll of Honour
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World War 2 Service

27 Apr 1936: Enlisted Royal Australian Air Force, No. 2 Squadron (RAAF)
27 Apr 1936: Enlisted Royal Australian Air Force, Corporal, 2130
3 Sep 1939: Involvement Corporal, 2130

Help us honour John Frederick Palmer's service by contributing information, stories, and images so that they can be preserved for future generations.

Biography contributed by David Barlow

 

Son of Frederick and Mabel Palmer

Husband of Sheila Palmer of Glen Iris, Victoria

 

RAAF Lockheed Hudson aircraft A16-97 of Number 2 Squadron was on a VIP Flight when it crashed 2 miles east of Canberra Aerodrome, ACT

 

Passengers killed:

Brigadier G.A. Street (Minister for the Army)

General Sir Brudenell White (Chief of the General Staff)

Lieutenant Colonel F. Thornthwaite (Army Liaison Officer)

Mr J.V. Fairbairn (Minister for Air)

Sir Henry Gullett (Vice President Executive Council)

Mr R.E. Elford (Secretary to Air Minister)

 

Four RAAF crew members were killed in the crash:

Flight Lieutenant Robert Edward Hitchcock 115 (Aircraft Captain)

Pilot Officer Richard Frederick Wiesener 607 (Second Pilot)

Corporal John Frederick Palmer 2130

Aircraftman Charles Joseph Crosdale 6673

 

Pilot Officer Wiesener was cremated at Rookwood Crematorium and Aircraftsman Crosdale was buried in a private service at Cessnock.  The other 8 fatalities were accorded a State Funeral in Melbourne.

After the cortege passed along St Kilda Road, the coffin of Corporal Palmer was taken from the procession to make a detour to St Patrick's Cathedral with the other 7 coffins taken into St Paul's Cathedral for the funeral service

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