TURNBULL, Peter St George Bruce
| Service Number: | 481 |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | 16 January 1939, RAAF Base, Richmond, New South Wales |
| Last Rank: | Squadron Leader |
| Last Unit: | No. 76 Squadron (RAAF) |
| Born: | Armidale, New South Wales, Australia, 9 February 1917 |
| Home Town: | Glen Innes, Glen Innes Severn, New South Wales |
| Schooling: | Not yet discovered |
| Occupation: | Electrician |
| Died: | Flying Battle, Milne Bay, New Guinea, 27 August 1942, aged 25 years |
| Cemetery: |
Port Moresby (Bomana) War Cemetery, Papua New Guinea Grave Ref. A2 C 27 |
| Memorials: | Armidale High School WW2 In Memoriam Honour Roll, Australian War Memorial Roll of Honour, Glen Innes World War 2 Memorial |
World War 2 Service
| 16 Jan 1939: | Enlisted Royal Australian Air Force, RAAF Base, Richmond, New South Wales | |
|---|---|---|
| 27 Aug 1942: | Involvement Royal Australian Air Force, Squadron Leader, 481, No. 76 Squadron (RAAF), Milne Bay - Papua New Guinea WW2 | |
| Date unknown: | Enlisted Royal Australian Air Force, Squadron Leader, 481 |
Help us honour Peter St George Bruce Turnbull's service by contributing information, stories, and images so that they can be preserved for future generations.
Add my storyBiography contributed by David Barlow
Squadron Leader Turnbull was the Commanding Officer of 76SQN and was shot down near Kari Mission, Sanderson's Bay, New Guinea while flying Kittyhawk A29-92
He flew with 3 Squadron RAAF in the Middle East and he has an entry in the book "Aces High" by Christopher Shores.
Biography
Peter St George TURNBULL was born on 9th February, 1917 at Armidale, NSW
His parents were Archibald TURNBULL and Maud Gwendolen GORE
He had previous service with the Air Cadets and also 12 months with the 12/24 Light Horse as a Trooper when he enlisted with the RAAF on 16th January, 1939
Rank & Promotions
Air Cadet - 16.1.1939
Pilot Officer - 20.10.1939
Flying Officer - 20.4.1940
Flight Lieutenant - 1.7.1940
He was one of the best known fighter pilots in the middle east
He died on 27th August, 1942, Milne Bay, New Guinea - His rank was then a Squadron Leader - he is buried in Port Moresby (Bomana War Cemetery)
Peter was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross
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The Argus Melbourne - 2nd September 1942
RAAF Fighter Pilot Missing
Acting Squadron Leader Peter St George Bruce TURNBULL, DFC of Australias greatest fighter pilots is posted missing in air operations over New Guinea. It is presumed the his disappearance was due to enemy action. Turnbull was flying a Kittyhawk fighter. Previously a member of a famous australian fighter squadron in the Middle East, Turnbul gained his DFC on that front. Citation to the award was made last October
Acting Squadron Leader P Turnbull - -stated that Turnbull had shown magnificent fighting spirit and great skill in the 116 operational flights on which he had been engaged to that time. In one engagement over the desert Turnbull had shot down 3 Merrerschmits.
Turmbull was among experienced pilots recalled to Australia to apply their skill and experience to home squadrons when the Japanese menace to Australia became accentuated at the end of last year. Subsequently he was posted to operations at a Northern Australian base. He entered the RAAF as an Air Cadet in 1939. Before that he was an electrical worker
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