Edwin L Turner

Military

Assigned to 343BS, 98BG, 9AF USAAF. Failed to Return (FTR) Ploesti raid in B-24 42-40364 'Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs'; shot down near the Yugoslavia/Bulgaria border by enemy fighters during withdrawal from the target. Killed in Action (KIA) MACR 165



TSgt Turner was on Crew 67-19 with Capt Gunn on movement orders to North Africa on January 27, 1943 to serve with the 98th Bomb Group.



Awards: DFC (1OLC), AM (4OLC), PH, ACM, EAME w/2 campaign stars

Connections

See how this entry relates to other items in the archive by exploring the connections below.

Units served with

Three airmen of the 389th Bomb Group stand with a B-24 Liberator used as a Flight Assembly Ship. Image via Tim Bivens. Handwritten caption from Bivens: 'My friend remembers it being named "Bucksheesh Benny" that it was used to fly Jack Benny around USA shows. Says it flew in North Africa with Benny and was eventually assigned to 389th as a hack and later as a form-up ship. He thinks it was originally with another group (possibly 376th or 98th).' Handwritten caption on reverse: '389th BG Form-up ship.'
  • Unit Hierarchy: Group
  • Air Force: Ninth Air Force
  • Type Category: Bombardment

People

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 98th Bomb Group 343rd Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 11037168 / O-791098
  • Highest Rank: Captain
  • Role/Job: Pilot

Aircraft

  • Aircraft Type: B-24 Liberator
  • Nicknames: - The Pink Elephant - Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs
  • Unit: 98th Bomb Group 343rd Bomb Squadron

Missions

Places

  • Site type: Airfield
  • Known as: Soluch Airfield

Events

Event Location Date Description

Enlisted

Chicago, IL 6 January 1942 Chicago, Illinois

Died

Macedonia 1 August 1943

Buried

12 July 1949 Arlington National Cemetery Arlington, Virginia Grave 107, Section 15

Born

Georgia
Zion, IL

Based

1 August 1943 Assigned to 343BS, 98BG, 9AF USAAF.

Revisions

Date
Contributordecwriter
Changes
Sources

Updated awards and bio section per official government documents.
https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/49329448/edwin-l-turner

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Contributordecwriter
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KIA during Operation Tidal Wave.

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Contributordecwriter
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NARA file verified awards.

Date
Contributorjmoore43
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Sources

Added a "-" to the A/C serial number in the "Summary biography" to aid clarity & consistency.

Date
Contributordecwriter
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Updated biography information.

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Contributordecwriter
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ASN on movement order.

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Contributordecwriter
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Awarded Distinguished Flying Cross for his actions on the 1 Aug 1943 Ploesti raid.

Date
ContributorLucy May
Changes
Sources

Removed: 'Was detached from 389th BG to 98th BG to fly this raid. Was a member of Capt . Gunn's crew also detached to the 98th BG for this raid.'
Only previous source given is MACR 165 and there is no evidence in that MACR that the crew was detached from 389th Bomb Group:
https://www.fold3.com/image/1/29417957

https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/49329448/edwin-l-turner

Date
ContributorAAM
Changes
Sources

Drawn from the records of the National Museum of the Mighty Eighth Air Force, Savannah, Georgia / MACR 165