John TURNBULL

John TURNBULL Update Details

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Service Number:	642
Enlisted:	8 July 1940
Last Rank:	Flying Officer
Last Unit:	No. 13 Squadron (RAAF)
Born:	Toorak, Victoria, Australia, 25 May 1916
Home Town:	Toorak, Stonnington, Victoria
Schooling:	Not yet discovered
Occupation:	Clerk
Died:	Flying Battle, Netherlands East Indies, 1 January 1942, aged 25 years
Cemetery:	No known grave - "Known Unto God" Commemorated: - Column 8, Ambon Memorial, Ambon, Maluku, Indonesia.
Memorials:	Ambon Memorial, Australian War Memorial Roll of Honour

3 Sep 1939:	Involvement Flying Officer, 642
8 Jul 1940:	Enlisted Royal Australian Air Force, Air Cadet, 642, No. 21 Squadron (RAAF)
1 Jan 1942:	Discharged Royal Australian Air Force, Flying Officer, 642, No. 13 Squadron (RAAF), Flying OfficerTurnbull was piloting aircraft Hudson A16-29, one of three Hudson aircraft which had been sent on a mission to locate shipping. Flying back low at 100 metres to avoid detection by the Japanese, his starbord engine failed and he made an attempt to jettison his bombs and gain some height; his aircraft stalled and crashed near Laha. FO Turnbull, 404945 Pilot Officer Robert Kelvin Allen and 408079 Sergeant Walter John Lay were all killed in this crash. The badly burned gunner, Sergeant Bernie Hack survived the crash and was picked up by Air Sea Rescue.

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