Warrant Officer Class II John Palmer
Royal Canadian Air Force
Eatonia, Saskatchewan
Prelate, Saskatchewan
Died: May 13, 1943
Commemorated at Rotterdam (Crooswijk)
General Cemetery, Netherlands
John Palmer (born as ‘Palamer’), born April 17, 1919 at Prelate, Saskatchewan, grew up on the family farm near Eatonia, Saskatchewan, completing his public education in 1936. Palmer first served with The King’s Own Rifles of Canada while working as a garage mechanic for Wallis & Cleland at Eatonia.
Following enlistment at Saskatoon, Saskatchewan March 10, 1941, Palmer served with the Royal Canadian Air Force attached to No. 419 (Moose) Squadron (Moosa Aswayita) as a Warrant Officer Class II (Pilot) during the Second World War. Part of No. 6 Group, Bomber Command, the No. 419 flew Halifax and Lancaster bombers over industrial targets in Germany. On May 13, 1943, Warrant Officer Class II (Pilot) John Palmer died during air operations over Duisburg, Germany.
Shot down by a night fighter, Palmer’s Halifax bomber crashed southwest of Spijkenisse and is commemorated at Rotterdam (Crooswijk) General Cemetery, Netherlands. Son of Steven Palamer and Annie (nee Domchewsky) Palamer of Eatonia; brother of Mary and Stacia; he was 24 years old. Palmer Lake in Saskatchewan is named in his honour.