Beaufort Mosman Hunter Palmer
| Beaufort Mosman Hunter Palmer | |
|---|---|
Squadron Leader B.M.H. Palmer with Prime Minister Robert Menzies in August 1940 at RAAF Station Archerfield, Brisbane.
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| Nickname(s) | "Beau" |
| Born |
14 December 1919 Brisbane, Australia |
| Died | 22 November 2011 (aged 91) Gold Coast, Australia |
| Allegiance | Australia |
| Service/branch | Royal Australian Air Force |
| Years of service | 1940–1945 |
| Rank | Squadron Leader |
| Commands held | No. 5 Squadron RAAF |
| Battles/wars | |
| Awards | Distinguished Flying Cross |
Squadron Leader Beaufort Mosman Hunter "Beau" Palmer, DFC (14 December 1919 – 22 November 2011) was an Australian aviator of the Second World War who was recognised as one of Australia's finest wartime pilot instructors.
Beau was born in Toowong, Brisbane, the son of Carl and Florence (née Robinson), and the grandson of Sir Arthur Hunter Palmer, an Irish-Australian politician and a Premier of Queensland.
Beau was educated at Brisbane Boys' College, where he played in the 1st XV and also rowed in two Head of the River (Queensland) winning crews in 1937 and 1938. He learnt to fly while still at school gaining his pilots wings in 1937 at Archerfield Airport with the Royal Queensland Aero Club.
Palmer joined the Royal Australian Air Force in 1938, was commissioned and posted to the RAAF Base Point Cook, Victoria as a flying instructor in 1939.
In 1940, Palmer was the first pilot to land at the newly established RAAF Station Archerfield and also was one of the first pilots to land at the new RAAF Base Amberley near Ipswich.
Palmer "pulled every string he could to gain a battlefield posting" and in 1944 assumed command of No. 5 Squadron RAAF. The squadron was operating in Dutch New Guinea and Palmer flew over 100 sorties in 1944 and 1945.
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