Philip was born in 1921 in Bethnal Green to Harry and Fanny nee Solomon who were from Odessa, Ukraine. Philip had four younger siblings, Muriel, Gerald, Zelda and Chester.

Philip attended Eastbourne Grammar School and worked in the family business P. Panto & Co before joining the RAF in November 1940.

Philip was the pilot of Anson N5324 which took off from RAF Staverton on a map reading exercise. The weather was poor and after take off the aircraft struck high tension power cables at approximately 300ft at Rodley, Gloucestershire and crashed into the River Severn. All the crew were killed:
LAC, 656298, Robert Stuart Palmer
LAC, 1336457, Reginald Walter Banks
Aircraftman 2nd Class, 1330641 Herbert Amoore

The incident report identified a ‘press on’ attitude and determined that the training flight should not have been authorised in the circumstances.