Oelwein—Pfc. Clayton LaVern Palmer, was graduated Monday from the armament department of army air forces technical training command school at Lowry field, Denver, Colo. A graduate of Cedar Falls High school in 1930, he was inducted at Camp Dodge May 24, 1943, after spending 10 years in the Iowa national guard. He formerly was employed at the John Deere Tractor company.
Source: Waterloo Daily Courier, Monday, October 25, 1943
Clayton L. Palmer, son of Mr. and Mrs. Harry L. Palmer, Waterloo, has received his wings as an aerial gunner at the Harlingen, Tex., army air field, according to word received here Monday. He will join an aerial combat team, unless retained at Harlingen to serve as a gunnery instructor.
Source: Waterloo Daily Courier, January 10, 1944 (photo included)
Palmer Dies in Action
On Romania Raid
Staff Sgt. Clayton L. Palmer, 34, top turret gunner on a B-24 Liberator bomber, was killed June 24 in a raid over Romania, a war department message Tuesday informed his wife, LaVelle, 210 ½ Locust street. He had previously been listed as missing in action.
Sergeant Palmer entered service May 24, 1943, received his basic army training at Lincoln, Neb., took additional training at Denver, Colo., and was graduated from gunnery school at Harlingen, Tex., last January.
He was transferred to his squadron at Salt Lake City, Utah, and trained with his squadron at Biggs field, El Paso, Tex., before being sent overseas from Topeka, Kan., on May 14.
In a letter to his wife, written the day before he was killed, Sergeant Palmer said he had completed about half of his required missions.
Born Sept. 21, 1910, at Cedar Falls, the son of Mr. and Mrs. Harry Palmer, who now reside at Long Beach, Cal., he attended Cedar Falls schools and was graduated from high school there in 1934. He had been employed at the John Deere Tractor Co. here until he entered service.
He was baptized a member of the Church of God here.
Surviving are his wife; parents; three sons by a previous marriage, Kenneth and Donald Palmer at 1004 Independence avenue, and Larry Palmer, Lafayette street; two sisters, Mrs. Charles Walker, Ft. Leonard Wood, Mo., and Mrs. Harold Fickers at San Diego, Cal.; two brothers, Pvt. Gerald Palmer, with the army in France, and Harold, employed at the shipyards, Renton, Wash.; and an aunt, Mrs. Charles Howe, 1036 Newton street.
Source: Waterloo Daily Courier, Waterloo, Iowa, Tuesday, November 14, 1944, Section Two, Page 32
Palmer Memorial Services
Will Be Conducted Sunday
Memorial services will be held Sunday at the Church of God for Staff Sgt. Clayton L. Palmer, formerly of Waterloo, who was killed June 24 in a raid over Romania. Elder Charles W. Howe will be in charge.
Sergeant Palmer, whose wife resides at 210 ½ Locust street, is the son of Mr. and Mrs. Harry Palmer, Long Beach, Cal., and was a former employe (sic) of the John Deere Tractor Co.
He had been serving as top turret gunner on a B-24 Liberator bomber since going overseas in May.
The family has requested that no flowers be sent.
Source: Waterloo Daily Courier, Waterloo, Iowa, Tuesday, November 21, 1944, Page 2
Palmer Memorial Being Held Today
Memorial services for Staff Sgt. Clayton L. Palmer, top turret gunner on a B-24 Liberator bomber who was killed in action June 24 in an air raid over Romania, will be held at 2:30 p. m. today in the Conger Street Church of God. His wife resides at 210 ½ Locust street, and his parents, Mr. and Mrs. Harry Palmer, now reside in Long Beach, Cal.
Source: Waterloo Daily Courier, Waterloo, Iowa, Tuesday, November 26, 1944, Page 15
Clayton Palmer Reburial Thurs. at Cedar Falls
Cedar Falls – The body of a former local man who met death overseas in World war II is being returned to Cedar Falls for reburial, according to information at the Dahl funeral home Tuesday.
It is the body of Staff Sgt. Clayton L. Palmer, a top turret gunner on a B-24 Liberator, who was killed on a mission over Rumania June 24, 1944. The burial will be in Greenwood cemetery.
Palmer was the son of Mr. and Mrs. Harry L. Palmer of Long Beach, Cal., former residents of Cedar Falls.
The American Legion will be in charge of the service, which will be held at 1:30 p. m. Thursday at the Dahl funeral home, conducted by Dr. H. D. Temple
Source: Waterloo Daily Courier, Waterloo, Iowa, Tuesday, September 12, 1950, Page 5
WWII Headstone Application dated 17 Oct 1950
