Francis Turner

Squadron Leader Francis McDougall Charlewood Turner, (17 March 1897 – 18 June 1982) was a British First World War flying ace credited with seven aerial victories. He returned to military service during the Second World War, and in between had a distinguished academic career as a Fellow and President of Magdalene College, Cambridge. Early life and family background Turner was born in Hastings, Sussex, one of nine children born to Charles Henry Turner, who at that time was rector of the parish of St George-in-the-East and an Honorary Chaplain to the Queen, who served as Suffragan Bishop of Islington from 1898 until 1923, and Edith Emma, the daughter of the Right Reverend Francis McDougall, Bishop of Labuan and Sarawak. World War I Turner was commissioned as a second lieutenant (on probation) on 3 January 1916 to serve in the Royal Flying Corps, and after completing his flight training, he was appointed a flying officer and confirmed in his rank on 17 June. He was promoted to lieutenant on 1 March 1917, and on 7 May was appointed a flight commander with the temporary rank of captain. Turner gained his first aerial victories on 13 August 1917, while serving in No. 55 Squadron, flying an Airco DH.4 two-seater day bomber. With Second Lieutenant R. Brett as his observer, he drove down out of control two Albatros D.V fighters over Roulers. On 26 September 1917 he was awarded the Military Cross, the citation for which was eventually published on 8 January 1918. It read: Lieutenant (Temporary Captain) Francis McDougall Charlewood Turner, Royal Flying Corps, Special Reserve. "For conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty as leader of long distance bombing raids and on photographic reconnaissances. He has taken part in many successful operations, in twenty-four of which he has acted as leader, and by his skill and determination has invariably done good work in spite of very adverse weather conditions, and though more than once attacked by enemy formations in greatly superior numbers to his own. He was the first officer to carry out a single machine long distance reconnaissance successfully, and has been more than once congratulated for the excellence of his photographic work."