For those who may be interested, following are the Second World War enlistment details for Flight-Lieutenant Valton Leslie John Turner DFC and Bar:
Service Number: O23862 (420363)
Date of Birth: 4 October 1920
Place of Birth: Sydney, NSW
Date of Enlistment: 11 October 1941
Locality on Enlistment: Gloucester, NSW
Place of Enlistment: Sydney, NSW
Next of Kin: Mary Turner
Date of Discharge: 6 December 1945
Rank: Flying Officer
Posting at Discharge: Aircrew Holding Unit
Awards: Distinguished Flying Cross
The citation for the DFC was for “numerous operational sorties and bomber escorts,” with the award being published in the London Gazette on 1 June 1945 and in the Commonwealth of Australia Gazette 14 June 1945.
Flying Officer Turner’s ‘victories’ during World War Two from June 1944 - May 1945 with 56 Unit, RAF included four 4 individual victories and 2 V-1’s, as follows:
1944:
29 December
Type Claimed: Fw190
Number: 1
Squadron: 56
Aircraft Serial Number: US-Z (EJ579)
Location: S Dummer
1945:
23 January
Type Claimed: Bf109
Number: 1
Squadron: 56
Aircraft Serial Number: US-M (EJ778)
Location: 10 m NW Rheine
7 March
Type Claimed: Bf109
Number: 1
Squadron: 56
Aircraft Serial Number: US-P (EJ761)
Location: Twente-Rheine
22 March
Type Claimed: Fw190
Number: 1
Squadron: 56
Aircraft Serial Number: US-X (NV728)
Location: Hesepe area
Flying Officer Turner DFC also seen active service in the Korean War and was awarded the Bar to the Distinguished Flying Cross for “outstanding skill courage and determination with 77 Squadron, Korea.”
The Bar to the DFC was presented to Flight-Lieutenant Turner by Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth at Sydney’s Government House on 6 February 1954.
His address at time of the presentation was stated to be No. 2 (F) Operational RAAF, Williamtown.
Flight-Lieutenant Turner was also awarded the USA’s Air Medal.
