Tribute site: WW2 fighter pilot Billy Turnbull
Hi and welcome to this site;
Billy was sadly killed in action while doing his operational service in Egypt, 1942. I obtained copies of Billy's photographs and log book via Wayne Allen-White with the kind permission of Billy's sister, Ella Siebert (Turnbull).
Billy and Angus Allen-White (Wayne's dad) were best of friends during the war and hence the connection.
Thanks to Ella who presented, prepared and sorted all the memorabilia including a resume of her late brother.
William Fraser Turnbull joined the South African Air Force in early 1941. He qualified as a fighter pilot and was sent to North Africa where he joined SAAF No.5 fighter squadron in mid 1942.
Billy started flying operations in August 1942 when the front was deadlocked at the El Alamein line. The squadron flew the inferior Tomahawk aircraft at that stage. Missions included bomber escorts, armed recce's and own troop protection sorties and other.
After only 17 sorties Billy was reported missing, never to be found. He was most probably shot down by the German ace Joachim Marseille as Marseille claimed 3 Tomahawks shot down at the same date, -area and -time that Billy went missing.
Today Billy is remembered at the El Alamein memorial column 267. Billy was only 19 years of age.
5 Squadron Tomahawk GL-V: similar to the one that Billy flew his last sortie. Profile artwork credit to Gavin Johnson
This is a living web site. Any input and/or participation will be much appreciated regarding additional information, correctness, information from relatives of members who served with Billy, photographs, stories etc. Please e-mail me.
If you perhaps have a family member who served as a SAAF fighter pilot during WW2 and you would want to find out more about his war service please contact me, hopefully I can be of some help.
Tinus le Roux
February 2015
Flying Miles Masters at Dunnottar
Military career
02/09/1941 2 Air School, elementary flying training, flying Tiger Moths, 52 hours
18/09/1941 first solo
28/10/1941 24 Air School Dunnottar, flying Miles Masters, 102 hours, above average assessment.
14/02/1942 Qualified for SAAF flying badge
07/04/1942 SAAF No. 6 fighter squadron, Durban, flying Harvards and Mohawks
06/07/1942 Fly up to the Middle East as passanger in a Lockheed Lodestar
16/07/1942 RAF 233 wing Base ( training), Egypt, flying Tomahawks
26/07/1942 SAAF No.5 Fighter Squadron, Egypt, flying Tomahawks. Flew 17 operational sorties.
06/09/1942 Took off at 17:30 with Tomahawk GL-V, 2nd sortie of the day, log book: "Shot down on Stuka party" Reported missing
Training
Miles Masters at Dunnottar
Course photograph with Billy and Angus
Miles Master trainer
Billy with
WINGS PARADE
Wings parade at Dunnottar
Billy with his mom and dad
Billy with Ella and his mom
GOING "UP NORTH"
Flying up with the Lockheed Lodestar.
Flying past Mount Kilimanjaro, Tanzania.
Pyramids and sphinks, Cairo
SAAF pilots posing..
Best of friends: Angus Allen-White Billy Turnbull
5 Squadron Tomahawks
MISSING IN ACTION 6 SEPTEMBER 1942
On this day 5 squadron was scrambled to confront a German Ju-87 Stuka bomber force of approximately 15 machines, south of the Alamein station. There were also a German fighter cover of approximately 12 Messerschmitt Bf-109 aircraft.
In the aerial battle that followed the South Africans claimed 3 Stukas destroyed, 2 Stukas probably destroyed and 1 Stuka damaged. A Messerschmitt Bf-109 damaged was also claimed.
5 Squadron sustained 4 losses, Billy's aircraft being one of them. Nobody in the squadron observed what happened to Billy but his aircraft was most probably shot down.
Another aircraft, that of Lt. Coleman, was seen crashing in flames. The other two losses were not fatal as both pilots made safe crash landings.
Here a presentation of the communication to Billy's family and 5 squadron war diary reports.
COMMUNICATION TO BILLY'S FAMILY
Letter from 5 Squadron commander Maj. Bunny Pearce .
5 SQUADRON WAR DIARY REPORTS
