PB371
Crashes > of the R.A.F.
The Lancaster PB371 under the pilot Sq/Ld. Robert Anthony Maurice Palmer acted as a "scout aircraft" in this attack on the Cologne-Gremberg railway station. During the approach to the target area, the aircraft was shot at by anti-aircraft fire and badly hit. Nevertheless, Sq/Ld. Palmer continued his approach and led the bomber group to the target until the aircraft could no longer be kept in the air.
It crashed on the overpass bridge of the Porz-Urbach railway station and caught fire on impact. Six of the seven crew members lost their lives and were rescued by soldiers from anti-aircraft unit 5/666 and buried not in Hoffnungthal but in the cemetery of the "Hoffnungstal" prison camp near Rösrath.
Only the rear gunner, Fl/Sgt. Russel Kaye Yeulett survived the crash and was hospitalised at the Hoffnungsthal prison camp due to his injuries. It is not known whether he remained in this POW camp after his recovery or was transferred to another one.
The pilot Robert Palmer was posthumously awarded the Victoria Cross, the highest British honour for bravery.
Extensive information on this attack and Palmer's role can be found at: Luftkrig1939-1945.dk (in Danish)
and in Bomber Command, Reflections of war, 1944-1945 page 74ff
links:
Crash site subway Porz-Urbach railway station.
left:
The KE report, a crash report by the German Recovery Command with all the essential details about the crash, the aircraft and the crew.
Left:
Location of the prisoner of war camp
"Hoffnungthal"
left:
Grave location at the cemetery of the
"Hoffnungsthal" prisoner of war camp
left:
Sq/Ld. Robert Palmer
