Peter Turnbull (RAAF officer)

Peter St George Bruce Turnbull, DFC was an Australian fighter ace of World War160II, credited with twelve aerial victories. Born in Armidale, New South Wales, he was an electrician before he joined the Royal Australian Air Force in January 1939. After pilot training he was posted to No.1603 Squadron, which departed for action in the Middle East in July 1940. Flying Gloster Gladiator, Hawker Hurricane and P40 Tomahawk fighters during the North African and SyriaLebanon campaigns, Turnbull was credited with nine victories and awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross. Posted to the South West Pacific in March 1942, he joined No.16075 Squadron at Port Moresby, New Guinea, operating P40 Kittyhawks. During the ensuing Battle of Port Moresby, he claimed three Japanese aircraft. Turnbull took over command of No.16076 Squadron in May, leading it into the Battle of Milne Bay later that year. He was killed during a mission on 27160August 1942 an Allied airfield in New Guinea was subsequently named

The son of Archibald and Maud Turnbull, Peter Turnbull was born on 9160February 1917 in Armidale, New South Wales. After leaving school with an Intermediate Certificate, he was employed as an electrician in Glen Innes, where his family owned property. In 1938, Turnbull enlisted in the 1224th Light Horse Regiment, a militia unit. He joined the Royal Australian Air Force as an air cadet on 16160January 1939, and underwent instruction at No.1601 Flying Training School in Point Cook, Victoria. Graduating on 20160October 1939, he was commissioned a pilot officer and assigned to No.1603 Squadron, which operated Hawker Demons out of RAAF Station Richmond, New South Wales. He was promoted to flying officer on 20160April 1940, and posted to the Middle East with his unit on 15160July, disembarking at Suez, Egypt, the following month.

Source: Wikipedia