Ronald William Turner

Ronald William Turner
Born	17 November 1896
Died	Post 1 June 1919
Place of birth	York, Yorkshire, England
Allegiance	England
Service/branch	Aviation
Rank	lieutenant
Unit	No. 20 Squadron RAF
Awards	Distinguished Flying Cross

Lieutenant Ronald William Turner was an English World War I flying ace. He was credited with nine aerial victories while flying as an observer/gunner in two-seater fighters.

Early life

Ronald William Turner was born in York, England on 17 November 1897. The younger Turner worked for five years as a joiner and carpenter prior to joining the Yorkshire Regiment to serve in World War I. He was promoted to Lance Corporal in the Yorkshires, then commissioned as a second lieutenant.

World War I

Turner transferred from infantry duty to the Royal Flying Corps in December 1917. By May 1918, he had completed training as an aerial observer, been posted to 20 Squadron, and begun his string of aerial success that would run until 29 July 1918. On 9 August 1918, he was medically evacuated to a London hospital.

He was rewarded for his valour with the Distinguished Flying Cross on 4 November 1918. His award citation short-changed him when it read:

"A skilful and determined observer who in recent operations has shot down six enemy machines, accounting for two Albatross scouts in one flight."

He was subsequently promoted to temporary lieutenant, with seniority from 27 December 1918. Upon recovery, he would serve at the School of Air Gunnery through the turn of the year, and with 50th TDS in early 1919.

List of aerial victories

See also Aerial victory standards of World War I

No.	Date/time	Aircraft	Foe	Result	Location	Notes
1	18 May 1918 @ 1140 hours	Bristol F.2b Fighter serial number B1168	Pfalz D.III	Destroyed	North of Neuf-Berquin	Pilot: John Henry Colbert
2	4 July 1918 @ 1620 hours	Bristol F.2b Fighter s/n C951	Albatros D.V	Destroyed	West of Veldhoek	Pilot: Paul Iaccaci
3	4 July 1918 @ 1630 hours	Bristol F.2b Fighter s/n C951	Albatros D.V	Driven down out of control	West of Veldhoek	Pilot: Paul Iaccaci
4	4 July 1918 @ 1640 hours	Bristol F.2b Fighter s/n C951	Albatros D.V	Destroyed	Northeast of Zillebeke Lake	Pilot: Paul Iaccaci
5	10 July 1918 @ 0920 hours	Bristol F.2b Fighter s/n D7919	Fokker D.VII	Destroyed	East of Zillebeke Lake	Pilot: Paul Iaccaci
6	10 July 1918 @ 0920 hours	Bristol F.2b Fighter s/n D7919	Fokker D.VII	Driven down out of control	East of Zillebeke Lake	Pilot: Paul Iaccaci
7	14 July 1918 @ 0900 hours	Bristol F.2b Fighter	Fokker D.VII	Driven down out of control	Southeast of Ypres	Pilot: Paul Iaccaci. Victory shared with Dennis Latimer and Tom Cecil Noel
8	24 July 1918 @ 2000 hours	Bristol F.2b Fighter D7951	Fokker D.VII	Destroyed	North of Comines	Pilot: John Colbert
9	29 July 1918 @ 2010 hours	Bristol F.2b Fighter s/n D7951	Fokker D.VII	Destroyed	Northwest of Wervicq	Pilot: John Colbert

Post World War I

On 1 June 1919, he went on the unemployed list of the Royal Air Force and disappeared into the mists of history.

References

• Above the War Fronts: The British Two-seater Bomber Pilot and Observer Aces, the British Two-seater Fighter Observer Aces, and the Belgian, Italian, Austro-Hungarian and Russian Righter Aces, 1914–1918: Volume 4 of Fighting Airmen of WWI Series: Volume 4 of Air aces of WWI. Norman Franks, Russell Guest, Gregory Alegi. Grub Street, 1997. ISBN 1-898697-56-6, ISBN 978-1-898697-56-5.