An Historically Important & Truly Exceptional “PATHFINDERS”
DFC (1945) & Bar (1945)
Wop/AG “Caterpillar Club” Aircrew Europe, “MALAYA” GSM group of Eight.
To:
Sgt - Wing Commander STANLEY TURNER, R.A.F.
[THE MEDALS] 
DISTINGUISHED FLYING CROSS (1945)
2nd Award Bar to DFC (1945)
1939-1945 Star
Aircrew Europe Star (F&G Clasp)
Defence Medal
War Medal (1939-1945)
General Service Medal, GVI (MALAYA)
Flt Lt S. TURNER. R.A.F.(Officially Impressed)
[DESCRIPTION]
As the UK’s leading RFC & RAF Medal specialists we are regularly privileged to acquire groups of truly exceptional flying medals.
Today we are pleased to list another magnificent assembly which was awarded to the then Flt/Lt Stanley Turner. R.A.F.
This is without doubt one of the most outstanding Bomber Command “Pathfinder” assemblies you will see.
With a Totally Astonishing “77 Operations” recorded, Stan’s Flying Log Book is a truly rare & exceptional document. He had a most remarkable career with the RAF during which he took part in some of the most important & dangerous bombing raids of the war, during one of which he bombed the German Battleship Scharnhorst in northern France. He later took part in specially targeted strikes on the much troublesome “mobile V.1 buzz bomb” sites in France. He also flew on four occasions with the then Flt/Lt Leonard Cheshire (later V.C.) while he was a pilot with 35 Squadron.
This almost unbelievable flying log book reads like a guided night-time tour of occupied Europe.
His exceptionally long wartime operational career spanned 1940 - 1945 and included some early flying time on the out of date and much maligned Fairey Battle fighter bomber which suffered such catastrophic losses with the squadrons of the *Advanced Air Striking Force during the Battle of France in the early summer of 1940.... (* My own late Dad, who volunteered in 1938, was a Wop/AG with 226 Squadron at Rheims) ....but VERY luckily for Stan, his squadron wasn’t part of the AASF being retained in the U.K. in the training role.
[BOMBER COMMAND in WORLD WAR TWO]
“A Dangerous Place at a Dangerous Time”
The survival rates & life expectancy figures of R.A.F. Bomber Command crews during WW2 make very grim reading.
Of 125,000 Bomber aircrew members who served 1939-1945, 57,205 killed of these young lads were lost. Their average age was the only 21 and the death rate was 46%. A further 8,403 were wounded in action, many seriously with burns. In addition, 9,838 men baled out over enemy territory, were captured and became prisoners of war. It is also known that many “lost” crewmen who had survived a bale out were actually caught and beaten to death by mobs of German civilians while the civil police looked the other way. A considerable number of downed flyers were also shot after being handed over to the SS & Gestapo.
Therefore, a total of 75,446 airmen (60% of operational crewmen) were killed, wounded or taken prisoner.
The stark reality of the situation was that the chances of surviving at all were 40/60 against ! ...with these odds being THE very worst of any branch of the armed services in WW2. The most risky job of all was perhaps the role of Rear Gunner, many of whom lost their lives in sudden stern attacks for which the Luftwaffe night fighter pilots were infamous.
The situation was horrendous with many men taking off in brand new Lancaster bombers on their first operational sortie who were never heard of again, lost without trace, , blown to pieces & totally evaporated in gigantic explosions of fuel & bombs caused by the lethal anti-aircraft flak shells or night fighter attacks and then swallowed into eternity by the brutal blackness of the night skies over occupied Europe & Germany.
[D.F.C. London Gazette 16.1.1945]
Flight Lieutenant Turner is now Squadron Leader and his enthusiasm efficiency and leadership has been proved. Now on his second tour of operations, he has completed 67 bombing attacks against the enemy and has recently flown in a most successful crew engaged on vital marking duties. Throughout, Flight Lieutenant Turner has set an example in keenness and ability and his fine record of service is worthy of high praise.
Particulars of recommendation:
Flight Lieutenant Turner is now Squadron Signals Leader and his enthusiasm efficiency and leadership has been proved. Now on his secod tour of operations, he has completed 67 bombing attacks against the enemy and has recently flown in a most successful crew engaged on vital marking duties. Throughout, Flight Lieutenant Turner has set an example in keeness and ability and his fine record of service. This Officer has carried out a large number of duties and continues to show determination and enthusiasm is worthy of high praise.
[Bar to the D.F.C. London Gazette 16.11.1945]
Since the award of the Distinguished Flying Cross Flight Lieutenant Turner has participated in numerous attacks against heavily defended targets. As signals leader he has set an inspiring example to other wireless operators in his squadron and he has materially contributed to the high standard of operational efficiency attained by his squadron.
Particulars of recommendation:
Since being awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross Flight Lieutenant Turner has carried out a further 12 operational sorties as Wireless Operator in heavy bombers. As Signals Leader to the Squadron he has set an extremely fine example to all wirelss operators in the way he has carried out this duties and in his keenness to participate in bombing attacks. He has flown with many crews new to the Squadron and by his experience has given them great confidence. Flight Lieutenant Turner has been untiring in his efforts to keep the highest possible standard of efficiency and ability of the wireless operators in the Squadron. For his devotion to duty and fine record of service this officer is recommended for the non-immediate award of the bar to the Distinguished Flying Cross.
[SORTIE LIST] 1940-1945 “An Exceptional & Maximum Effort”
Here below is a shot of his full sortie list of 77 ops.
Also highlighted below are a few of the more memorable events pictured and extracted from his log book.
“BALED OUT”
Early in the war, on 26th November 1940, he had been part of a five aircraft 58 Squadron formation from RAF WYTON sent to attack far away Turin (1,650 miles return) . His aircraft (Whitley V, P5028) was the only aircraft to reach & bomb the target. On the very final section of the return leg over Norfolk his Stirling bomber ran out of fuel and crash landed at RAF HORSHAM ST FAITH (Norwich) which was just 85 miles short of its base at Wyton. The sortie is logged at 10hrs 50 minutes which was clearly right at the far end of the endurance envelope for an old Whitley !
However, Sgt Turner, who was acting as Tail Gunner, wasn’t with the aircraft & the other four crew members when it came down at Horsham St Faith! It’s not clear why he alone left the aircraft, but the other four crew members led by the pilot, Flt/Lt Crooks, were not hurt in the incident. As a result of this bale out, Sgt Turner was awarded a Caterpillar Club membership by Irvin Parachutes (*His gold caterpillar pin with ruby eyes, named to “SGT S. TURNER” is included.)
“CRASH LANDED”
Ten months later on 10th September 1941 he had again gone as Wireless Operator, on a long distance raid on Turin when a Halifax bomber (L9526 TO-“O” ) which on its return force landed in a field at 06:22 on the 11th. The aircraft came down near Harling Road Railway Station at Honington, between Thetford & Norwich. The crew were unhurt and the aircraft although only lightly damaged never flew again, being later used as an instructional airframe.
“ESSEN, THE THOUSAND BOMBER RAID”
On 1st June 1942 he had gone on an early 1,000 bomber raid to the city of ESSEN in an old Whitley (BD525) ...This was a 5 hour 20 minute sortie.
A HIGHLY EXCEPTIONAL “DOUBLE GALLANTRY” GROUP FIT FOR THE FINEST COLLECTION OF R.A.F. MEDALS
£8995 with Part Exchanges Welcome
An Historically Important & Truly Exceptional “PATHFINDERS”
DFC (1945) & Bar (1945)
Wop/AG “Caterpillar Club” Aircrew Europe, “MALAYA” GSM group of Eight.
To:
Sgt - Wing Commander STANLEY TURNER, R.A.F.
[THE MEDALS] 
DISTINGUISHED FLYING CROSS (1945)
2nd Award Bar to DFC (1945)
1939-1945 Star
Aircrew Europe Star (F&G Clasp)
Defence Medal
War Medal (1939-1945)
General Service Medal, GVI (MALAYA)
Flt Lt S. TURNER. R.A.F.(Officially Impressed)
[DESCRIPTION]
As the UK’s leading RFC & RAF Medal specialists we are regularly privileged to acquire groups of truly exceptional flying medals.
Today we are pleased to list another magnificent assembly which was awarded to the then Flt/Lt Stanley Turner. R.A.F.
This is without doubt one of the most outstanding Bomber Command “Pathfinder” assemblies you will see.
With a Totally Astonishing “77 Operations” recorded, Stan’s Flying Log Book is a truly rare & exceptional document. He had a most remarkable career with the RAF during which he took part in some of the most important & dangerous bombing raids of the war, during one of which he bombed the German Battleship Scharnhorst in northern France. He later took part in specially targeted strikes on the much troublesome “mobile V.1 buzz bomb” sites in France. He also flew on four occasions with the then Flt/Lt Leonard Cheshire (later V.C.) while he was a pilot with 35 Squadron.
This almost unbelievable flying log book reads like a guided night-time tour of occupied Europe.
His exceptionally long wartime operational career spanned 1940 - 1945 and included some early flying time on the out of date and much maligned Fairey Battle fighter bomber which suffered such catastrophic losses with the squadrons of the *Advanced Air Striking Force during the Battle of France in the early summer of 1940.... (* My own late Dad, who volunteered in 1938, was a Wop/AG with 226 Squadron at Rheims) ....but VERY luckily for Stan, his squadron wasn’t part of the AASF being retained in the U.K. in the training role.
[BOMBER COMMAND in WORLD WAR TWO]
“A Dangerous Place at a Dangerous Time”
The survival rates & life expectancy figures of R.A.F. Bomber Command crews during WW2 make very grim reading.
Of 125,000 Bomber aircrew members who served 1939-1945, 57,205 killed of these young lads were lost. Their average age was the only 21 and the death rate was 46%. A further 8,403 were wounded in action, many seriously with burns. In addition, 9,838 men baled out over enemy territory, were captured and became prisoners of war. It is also known that many “lost” crewmen who had survived a bale out were actually caught and beaten to death by mobs of German civilians while the civil police looked the other way. A considerable number of downed flyers were also shot after being handed over to the SS & Gestapo.
Therefore, a total of 75,446 airmen (60% of operational crewmen) were killed, wounded or taken prisoner.
The stark reality of the situation was that the chances of surviving at all were 40/60 against ! ...with these odds being THE very worst of any branch of the armed services in WW2. The most risky job of all was perhaps the role of Rear Gunner, many of whom lost their lives in sudden stern attacks for which the Luftwaffe night fighter pilots were infamous.
The situation was horrendous with many men taking off in brand new Lancaster bombers on their first operational sortie who were never heard of again, lost without trace, , blown to pieces & totally evaporated in gigantic explosions of fuel & bombs caused by the lethal anti-aircraft flak shells or night fighter attacks and then swallowed into eternity by the brutal blackness of the night skies over occupied Europe & Germany.
[D.F.C. London Gazette 16.1.1945]
Flight Lieutenant Turner is now Squadron Leader and his enthusiasm efficiency and leadership has been proved. Now on his second tour of operations, he has completed 67 bombing attacks against the enemy and has recently flown in a most successful crew engaged on vital marking duties. Throughout, Flight Lieutenant Turner has set an example in keenness and ability and his fine record of service is worthy of high praise.
Particulars of recommendation:
Flight Lieutenant Turner is now Squadron Signals Leader and his enthusiasm efficiency and leadership has been proved. Now on his secod tour of operations, he has completed 67 bombing attacks against the enemy and has recently flown in a most successful crew engaged on vital marking duties. Throughout, Flight Lieutenant Turner has set an example in keeness and ability and his fine record of service. This Officer has carried out a large number of duties and continues to show determination and enthusiasm is worthy of high praise.
[Bar to the D.F.C. London Gazette 16.11.1945]
Since the award of the Distinguished Flying Cross Flight Lieutenant Turner has participated in numerous attacks against heavily defended targets. As signals leader he has set an inspiring example to other wireless operators in his squadron and he has materially contributed to the high standard of operational efficiency attained by his squadron.
Particulars of recommendation:
Since being awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross Flight Lieutenant Turner has carried out a further 12 operational sorties as Wireless Operator in heavy bombers. As Signals Leader to the Squadron he has set an extremely fine example to all wirelss operators in the way he has carried out this duties and in his keenness to participate in bombing attacks. He has flown with many crews new to the Squadron and by his experience has given them great confidence. Flight Lieutenant Turner has been untiring in his efforts to keep the highest possible standard of efficiency and ability of the wireless operators in the Squadron. For his devotion to duty and fine record of service this officer is recommended for the non-immediate award of the bar to the Distinguished Flying Cross.
[SORTIE LIST] 1940-1945 “An Exceptional & Maximum Effort”
Here below is a shot of his full sortie list of 77 ops.
Also highlighted below are a few of the more memorable events pictured and extracted from his log book.
“BALED OUT”
Early in the war, on 26th November 1940, he had been part of a five aircraft 58 Squadron formation from RAF WYTON sent to attack far away Turin (1,650 miles return) . His aircraft (Whitley V, P5028) was the only aircraft to reach & bomb the target. On the very final section of the return leg over Norfolk his Stirling bomber ran out of fuel and crash landed at RAF HORSHAM ST FAITH (Norwich) which was just 85 miles short of its base at Wyton. The sortie is logged at 10hrs 50 minutes which was clearly right at the far end of the endurance envelope for an old Whitley !
However, Sgt Turner, who was acting as Tail Gunner, wasn’t with the aircraft & the other four crew members when it came down at Horsham St Faith! It’s not clear why he alone left the aircraft, but the other four crew members led by the pilot, Flt/Lt Crooks, were not hurt in the incident. As a result of this bale out, Sgt Turner was awarded a Caterpillar Club membership by Irvin Parachutes (*His gold caterpillar pin with ruby eyes, named to “SGT S. TURNER” is included.)
“CRASH LANDED”
Ten months later on 10th September 1941 he had again gone as Wireless Operator, on a long distance raid on Turin when a Halifax bomber (L9526 TO-“O” ) which on its return force landed in a field at 06:22 on the 11th. The aircraft came down near Harling Road Railway Station at Honington, between Thetford & Norwich. The crew were unhurt and the aircraft although only lightly damaged never flew again, being later used as an instructional airframe.
“ESSEN, THE THOUSAND BOMBER RAID”
On 1st June 1942 he had gone on an early 1,000 bomber raid to the city of ESSEN in an old Whitley (BD525) ...This was a 5 hour 20 minute sortie.
A HIGHLY EXCEPTIONAL “DOUBLE GALLANTRY” GROUP FIT FOR THE FINEST COLLECTION OF R.A.F. MEDALS
£8995 with Part Exchanges Welcome