The Airmen's Stories - Sgt. R C Turner

Robert Charles Turner was born in Reading on 26th December 1914, the son of George Henry and Ethel Kathleen Turner.

He was educated at Christ's Hospital, Horsham and joined the RAFVR about May 1939 as an Airman u/t Aircrew.

Called up on 1st September 1939, Turner completed his training and was serving as an Air Gunner with 264 Squadron at Duxford in early 1940.

264 Squadron Air Gunners.

Cpl. A Lippett* Sgt. RC Turner Sgt. FJ Barker Sgt. SB Johnson* Sgt. LH Hayden Sgt. JF Wise Sgt. P Lille

Sgt. ER Thorn** P/O FH King   LAC HT Fairbrother* P/O Williams* LAC A Fidler* Sgt. WE Cox

** Sgt. Thorn was a pilot

* not a Battle of Britain participant

Cpl. A Lippett (MIA 31st May 1940)
Sgt. SB Johnson (MIA 31st May 1940)
LAC A Fidler (KIA 31st May 1940).

With P/O D Whitley over Dunkirk he shared in the destruction of a Me110, on the 27th they shared a He111 and on the 29th destroyed three Ju87s.

On 31st May, in L6961, they collided with L6980 in combat with Me109s. P/O MH Young baled out safely but Sgt. SB Johnson was posted Missing. Whitley made a crash landing on the beach near Dunkirk. They were able to return to England the following day.

Turner went with the squadron to Hornchurch on 21st August for what proved to be 264's final spell of day-fighting. In action on the 24th, Turner's Defiant, L7021, was severely damaged in the tail by return fire from a Ju88. He and his pilot, P/O D Whitley, were both unhurt and returned safely to base.

On the 28th they were shot down and killed by a Me109 over Thanet. The Defiant, N1574, crashed in Kingswood, Challock Forest.

Turner was 25. He is buried in Henley Road Cemetery, Eye and Dunsden, Berkshire.