Palmer Jackson Jr was killed in action on 28th of May 1944 at Leipzig Germany.
Palmer Jackson Jr. rests in peace at Margrate Cemetary in The Netherlands..Europe.
The plane received direct flak hit to the no.4 engine at 14:25 in the vicinity of Leipzig, Germany. The right wing immediately caught fire. The B-17 slid under the formation, the right wing came off, it rolled over on its back and the tail came off at the rear entrance door. The plane crashed.
Six crew members were killed and were buried at the cemetery of Beucha on 31 May 1944.
Further research into Palmer Jackson Jr. is ongoing if you have any information with regard to his family, his life or his military service, leave a note.
I want to know everything about the heroes who gave up their lives for our freedom so if you want to help us find his relatives.
We would be very gratefull to you.
RAF MOLESWORTH, ENGLAND, UNITED KINGDOM
06.03.2014
Story by Staff Sgt. Ashley Tyler
501st Combat Support Wing
RAF MOLESWORTH, England - “I want someone to remember him.”
When Nancy Standard gave her 10-year old grandson, Trevor Cook, World War II medals that belonged to her cousin, 2nd Lt. Jackson Palmer Jr., she didn’t think he would know what to do with them, or even fully understand their significance.
According to Standard’s daughter, Debbie Cook, Palmer’s B-17 Flying Fortress bomber was shot down May 28, 1944.
He was killed in action while assigned to the RAF Molesworth 303rd bombardment Group.
Palmer was an only child and had no children of this own. His extended family had no information about what happened.
Although Trevor was only 10 when he heard the story, he kept those medals, and his third cousin, in mind.
Years later, Trevor found himself at the Imperial War Museum in Duxford, England. It was there he saw Palmer’s name, along with the location of his burial site, the World War II American Cemetery and Memorial in Margraten, The Netherlands.
“Jackson isn’t forgotten,” he told his mother, Debbie.
Nearly 70 years after Palmer’s death, Debbie’s determination to find out what happened to her second cousin was rekindled, due to her mother passing away.
“After mom died, I got obsessed with what happened to [Jackson],” she said. “I went online and realized all the information was out there. I thought, ‘Why didn’t we know?’ Everyone knew where he was except for the family.”
Debbie rallied her sister and brother-in-law, Pattie and Henry Morneault to discover the secret behind Palmer’s death.
Members of the Margraten Association for the Adoption of Graves compiled information about Palmer, and began asking if anyone had any information about him.
“We learned, through Margraten, that a family in Holland Nuenen had created a website with Jackson’s gravestone on it,” said Debbie.
“A 9-year-old boy adopted his grave, put Jackson’s information on the web site and said ‘we’re looking for the family.’ Now, that boy is 21.
We’ve found him and we’re going to go meet him.”
Before the family’s date to meet their cousin’s adopted family, they contacted RAF Molesworth to gather more information about what his life may have been like.
“The family contacted our former historian Peter Park and coordinated with him on wanting to visit Molesworth in honor of their cousin,” said U.S. Army 1st Sgt. Louie Barlolong, Joint Intelligence Operations Center, Europe Analytic Center, headquarters commandant. “They’re trying to close the loop in terms of addressing 2nd Lt. Palmer, finding out where it all began, and culminate where he was actually shot down and then buried.”
Barlolong, who volunteered to spearhead the project after Park retired, provided the family with a tour of the Cambridge American Cemetery and Memorial, Britain’s only WWII American military cemetery, seats in attendance to the Holocaust Remembrance luncheon at RAF Alconbury and a tour around RAF Molesworth.
With the information Barlolong provided, the family felt they were finally able to put the pieces together.
Henry felt that not only will the trip contribute to keeping their cousin’s memory alive, but it also will provide peace of mind.
“We’re symbolically bringing Jackson home. It’s closure for the family,” said Henry. “It’s like a puzzle with a lot of missing pieces that we’re slowly closing in on. So what we want to do is take the information back and write for our father and kids the story of Jackson and what happened to him and show how amazing these WWII stories are.”
For more information about the Association for the Adoption of Graves at the American Cemetery of Margraten, visit www.margrateneerbetoon.nl.
For information about searching for U.S. military records, visit www.Fold3.com.
ALVIN G. DETERMAN CREW 358th BS B-17G #43-97298
The Floose 358BS (VK-H) (crew assigned 358BS:
21 April 1944 - photo: May 1944)
(Back L-R)
2Lt Alvin G. Determan (P-POW),
2Lt Ervin J. Pfahler (CP-KIA),
2Lt Jackson Palmer, Jr. (N-KIA),
2Lt Lamar E. Ledbetter (B) (KIS)
(Front L-R)
S/Sgt Milton C. Hendrickson (E-KIA),
S/Sgt Robert H. Asman (R-POW),
Sgt Manuel Vasquez (BTG-KIA),
Sgt Acel E. Livingston (WG-KIA),
Sgt Wayne E. Cope (TG-POW),
Sgt Albert R. Carroccia (WG-KIA)
(KIA/POW) On May 28, 1944 on Mission #163 to Leipzig, Germany.
B-17G #42-107028 (No Name) was lost to anti-aircraft fire.
2Lt Ledbetter was not on the mission.
He was replaced by 2Lt James A. McCamy (B-KIA)
(KIS) LtCol Lamar E. Ledbetter was Killed in Service on 20 February 1963 on a B-47 Training Flight with the 343rd BS,
98th Bomb Wing, stationed at Lincoln AFB, NE.
[photo courtesy of Robert F. Determan, nephew of Alvin G. Determan.
----- Original Message -----
From: "Silvia B"
To: VOV45
> Sent: Friday, July 01, 2005 9:55 AM
Subject: Jackson Palmer
----- Original Message -----
From: "Silvia B"
> To: Jeffrey
> Sent: Friday, July 01, 2005 2:44 PM
Subject: more info Jackson Palmer>
This morning my sister-in-law
----- Original Message -----
From: "Silvia B"
> To: Jeffrey
> Sent: Friday, July 01, 2005 2:44 PM
Subject: more info Jackson Palmer>
Pim>
This morning my sister-in-law has received this message from someone who would help with the search.
So we now know that Caroline B Palmer (born circa 1887) was the mother of Jackson Palmer Jr.
Caroline and Jackson senior were married in 1916.
Caroline and Jackson are both senior and junior was born in Massachusetts.
In 1930 (up to where the census goes ..... it doesn't go further) they lived in the town of Rochelle, province Westchester, New York State.
Because the cencus will not know any further after 1930 so we still don't know if Jackson jr was married or had children.
My sister-in-law takes precedence over that you're trying to figure out.
If we know more you will hear about it asap.
Greetings Silvia NL
----------------------------------------
Hi Sil,
I just got back to Dennis Lohr.
He's a researcher on Ancestry and he has me a copy of a handwritten 1920 census
sent.
You will find information about it on lines 68 69 and 70 Jackson Palmer, Caroline Palmer and Jackson Palmer Jr. That was then another toddler.
Caroline Palmer didn't have a job, but then she had to neither because her husband was a lawyer. (Lawyer)
You also see on line 68 almost on the end Lawyer
stand with Jackson Palmer Sr and Caroline Palmer
state None because she had no work.
Dennis wrote to the NARA for me.
That's the US National Archives just one answer
can take a long time for them, he said.
He also says in his email that he doesn't think so
Jackson Palmer had been married since the B17 crews
mostly very young men were there though
I have more about him. He's going anyway
look for any brothers, sisters or other family
so hopefully something will come out.
From: "Silvia B"
> To: VOV45
> Sent: Friday, July 01, 2005 2:44 PM
Subject: more info Jackson Palmer >
========
Hello Jeunesse ,
I have posted some information about the US Army Airman you are looking for help with, Palmer Jackson, Jr.
We probably will not find that he had a wife or children.
Many of the USA B-17 crews were only 18-20 years old, so they were too young to be married.
But maybe we get lucky!
This man's parents will surely be dead but maybe we can find a brother or sister, or some nieces and nephews.
It will take many months to receive a reply from the US National Archives (NARA) so please be patient.
I will contact the US National Archives (NARA) on your behalf with the information your have provided to see what they can tell us about this man.
NARA maintains all WWII records, but there was a huge fire in 1973 that destroyed 75-80% of all WWII Army records, so I may have to use other sources
Also, this July 4 weekend is USA Independence holiday, then I will be out of the country for 2 weeks.
Please do not worry if I do not answer you immediately!
Greetz
Dennis Lohr
Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA
----------------------
----- Original Message ----- From: "Alan Morton"
> Sent: Saturday, June 18, 2005 10:59 AM
Subject: Lt. Palmer Jackson's grave.
Dear Jeffrey Aarts'
I'm hoping I can direct you to a web site specifically for former
members of the 303rd Bomb Group Association.
The URL address is as follows:
http://www.303rdbg.com/index.shtml
After I launched the 303rd Bomb Group web site was pleased to
find reference to Palmer Jackson jr.,
New York State, Second lieutenant of the US Army Air Forces
Services
No# > o-703788; 358th Bomber Squadron, 303 Bomber Group Heavy.
His plane was called the Floose.
He died on 28th of May 1944 at Leipzig Germany.
I want to Thank You for your kindness on volunteering to maintain Lt. Palmer Jackson's grave.
It's not often that someone your age commits themselves to such a worthy cause.
Sixty-one years after the fact is very commendable and I'm very proud of you and your family.
You posted your letter to the 457th Bomb Group Association and I want to be of immediate help and steer you in the right direction.
Ironically, I've been in communication with a WWII Germany Air Force Ace as of late.
Here' s the adress at the newspaperarticle :
Ook heb ik nog een mailboxadres van Ace Walter Schuck
in Germany I can give you Ace Walter Schuck's Email address in Germany if you'd like.
He's 84 years old.
My very warm wishes to you Jeffery and your parents.
Good Luck and God Bless You, Alan Morton P. O. Box 216 Fullerton, CA USA
============
PALMER, JACKSON JR 2LT 0703788 New York May 28, 1944 his cross is places at Margraten Limburg The Netherlands at N 22 14
and his plane was called the floose.
303rd bomber group heavy
358th bomber squadron,
Army Air Forces Service No# o-703788,
second lieutenant U.S.
I, Jeffrey, adopted the grave of Palmer Jackson jr, born in the State of New York,
