LEST WE FORGET

Squadron Leader Peter St George TURNBULL DFC

Service No: 481
Born: 9 February 1917, Location unavailable
Enlisted in the RAAF: Date unavailable
Unit: No. 76 Squadron
Awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross (DFC), 10 October 1941
Died: Air Operations: (No. 76 Squadron Kittyhawk aircraft A29-92), near Sanderson’s Bay PNG, 27 August 1942, Aged 25 Years
Buried: Port Moresby (Bomana) War Cemetery PNG
CWGC Additional Information: Son of Archibald and Maud Gwendolen Turnbull, of Glen Innes, New South Wales
Roll of Honour: Glen Innes NSW
Remembered: Panel 104, Commemorative Area, Australian War Memorial, Canberra ACT

DFC Citation (for service with No. 3 Squadron RAAF): “This officer has carried out 116 operational sorties involving 200 hours flying. One day in April 1941, his formation engaged 16 enemy aircraft which were attacking our troops. Flying Officer Turnbull personally destroyed three Messerschmitts in the combat. He has destroyed eight enemy aircraft in the air and inflicted considerable damage to aircraft on the ground as well as mechanised transport and troops. Throughout, Flying Officer Turnbull has shown magnificent fighting spirit and skill.” (London Gazette 10 October 1941, page 5859)

On 27 August 1942, Kittyhawk A29-92 flown by Squadron Leader Turnbull and another No. 76 Squadron Kittyhawk aircraft took off on a reconnaissance flight in New Guinea with the object of locating an enemy tank. Enemy troops were observed and Squadron Leader Turnbull dived down to strafe them while the other aircraft provided top cover. During the attack, A29-92 flicked on its back at a height of about 200 feet and then crashed in the enemy lines killing Squadron Leader Turnbull. His body was later found near the Kabi Mission. A machine gun from A29-92 is on display at the Australian War Memorial.

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 Veterans’ Affairs On-Line WWII Nominal Roll
National Archives of Australia On-Line Record A705, 163/59/75

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