TURPIE, Eric Dudley
| Service Number: | 415595 |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | 30 November 1941 |
| Last Rank: | Flight Sergeant |
| Last Unit: | No. 467 Squadron (RAAF) |
| Born: | Fremantle, Western Australia, 11 September 1923 |
| Home Town: | White Gum Valley, Fremantle, Western Australia |
| Schooling: | White Gum Valley State School 1935. Fremantle Boys School, Western Australia 1936-37 |
| Occupation: | Clerk |
| Died: | Flying Battle, Germany, 25 February 1944, aged 20 years |
| Cemetery: |
Durnbach War Cemetery, Germany Coll. Grave Plot 5. Row J. Grave 9-15. Local Roll of Honour- Fremantle Western Australia |
| Memorials: | Australian War Memorial Roll of Honour, International Bomber Command Centre Memorial |
World War 2 Service
| 3 Sep 1939: | Involvement Flight Sergeant, 415595 | |
|---|---|---|
| 30 Nov 1941: | Enlisted Royal Australian Air Force, Aircraftman 2 (WW2), 415595, No. 4 Initial Training School Victor Harbor | |
| 30 Nov 1941: | Enlisted Royal Australian Air Force, Flight Sergeant, 415595 | |
| 20 Jul 1943: | Involvement Royal Australian Air Force, Sergeant, 415595, Operational Training Units (RAF), Air War NW Europe 1939-45 | |
| 24 Jan 1944: | Involvement Royal Australian Air Force, Flight Sergeant, 415595, No. 467 Squadron (RAAF), Air War NW Europe 1939-45 |
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Add my storyBiography contributed by Graham Padget
Biography presented during Kings Park Western Australia plaque dedication:
Flight Sergeant Eric Dudley Turpie of 467 Squadron was born at Fremantle in September 1923. He was the son of David and Marion Turpie, and had a sister, Joann.
He attended school at White Gum Valley and Fremantle Boys’ School. On leaving school, he was employed as a clerk at Fremantle Cold Storage in Beach Street and in his leisure time he liked to play cricket and football.
Eric furthered his education by studying practical and maritime bookkeeping which he passed in July 1940.
He enlisted in Perth in November 1941 just after he turned 18 and did his initial training at Victor Harbour in South Australia.
He went to Point Cook and later to Ballarat training as a wireless operator air gunner, where he obtained his air gunner badge and was promoted to sergeant in October 1942.
Eric sailed from Melbourne in January 1943 and arrived in the United Kingdom in March.
After further training he was promoted to flight sergeant in December 1943 and then posted to 467 Squadron in January 1944.
Flight Sergeant Eric Dudley Turpie, service number 415595 of 467 Squadron, was killed in action on 26 February 1944 at Deufringen while flying in Avro Lancaster LL756 on a bombing raid over Germany. He was 20 years of age.
(Biography courtesy of bgpa.gov.au)
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