In Memory of
Kenneth Victor PALMER
Pilot Officer
42874
Pilot
59 Squadron
Royal Air Force
who died on
Friday 20 September 1940. Age 24
Additional Info
Son of Reginald Victor and Martha Louisa Palmer, of Dovercourt Bay, Essex.
Personal Inscription
Greater love
Hath no man than this,
That a man lay down
His life for his friends
Grave or Reference Panel Number
Grave 1.
In Memory of
Douglas Allan WALTERS
Sergeant
642945
Wireless Operator / Air Gunner
59 Squadron
Royal Air Force
who died on
Friday 20 September 1940. Age 19
Additional info
Son of George Edward and Amy Elizabeth Walters, of Droitwich, Worcestershire.
Personal Inscription
Tranquil you lie,
Your memory hallowed
In the land you loved
Grave or Reference Panel Number
Grave 2.
In Memory of
Ernest Edward WRIGHT
Sergeant
580992
Observer
59 Squadron
Royal Air Force
who died on
Friday 20 September 1940
Grave or Reference Panel Number
Grave 3.
Cemetery
LE VAST CHURCHYARD, Manche, France
Location information
Le Vast is a village and commune 20 kilometres east of Cherbourg.
In the northern part of the burial ground, near the east wall, are the graves of 3 airmen of the Royal Air Force.
Circumstances (With the help of documents kept in the National Archives – UK and the stele near the crash site)
On 20 September 1940 at 21:25, the Bristol Blenheim R3635 TR-‘V’ of 59 Squadron, with Pilot Officer Palmer, Sergeant Walters and Sergeant Wright onboard, took off from RAF Station Thorney Island for a Night Raid mission over Cherbourg. R3635 was hit by the Flak (German anti-aircraft), and crashed in a field, west of the town of Le Vast, at about 23:10 (*).
(*) The Marine Flak Abteilung 364 (2 & 5/364) claimed a Blenheim aircraft at Le Vast on 20 September 1940 at 23:10. Thanks to PeteS – 630 Squadron historian.
© The Commonwealth War Graves Commission
© The National Archives
© RAF WWII 38 Group Squadrons Reunited