LEST WE FORGET
Sergeant John Ernst TURNER
Service No: 406018
Born: Perth WA, 2 February 1905
Enlisted in the RAAF: 27 April 1940
Unit: No. 58 Squadron (RAF), RAF Linton-on-Ouse, Yorkshire
Died: Injuries from Air Operations (loss of No. 58 Squadron Whitley aircraft Z6939 on 30 September 1941), Yorkshire, 4 October 1941, Aged 36 Years
Buried: Newton-Upon-Ouse (All Saints) Churchyard, Yorkshire
CWGC Additional Information: Son of William Herbert and Marion Turner, of Swanbourne, Western Australia.
Roll of Honour: Unknown
Remembered: Panel 131, Commemorative Area, Australian War Memorial, Canberra ACT
Remembered: Cenotaph Undercroft, State War Memorial, Kings Park WA
Whitley Z6939 took off from RAF Linton-on-Ouse Yorkshire, at 1854 hours on the night of 29 September 1941 detailed to bomb Stettin, Germany. The aircraft crashed at 0420 hours on return to base, coming down in a wood just off the airfield. A fire developed and the aircraft was totally destroyed.
The crew members of Z6939 were:
Sergeant W Cawthorne (RAF) (Wireless Air Gunner) Survived
Sergeant Robert Hayden (611997) (RAF) (Second Pilot)
Sergeant G McHugh (RCAF) (Wireless Air Gunner) Survived
Sergeant John Ernst Turner (406018) (Observer) Died of injuries on 4 October 1941
Sergeant George Bow Watters (912095) (RAFVR) (Pilot)
References:
Australian War Memorial Roll of Honour On-Line Records (RAAF Casualty Information compiled by Alan Storr (409804))
Commonwealth War Graves Commission On-Line Records
Department of Veteran’s Affairs On-Line WWII Nominal Roll
National Archives of Australia On-Line Record A705, 163/169/53