Cengiz Topel | |
---|---|
Born | İzmit, Turkey | September 2, 1934
Died | August 8, 1964 Paphos District, Cyprus | (aged 29)
Allegiance | Turkey |
Service/ | Turkish Air Force |
Years of service | 1955–1964 |
Rank | Captain |
Unit | 112th Air Squadron |
Battles/wars | Battle of Tylliria |
Cengiz Topel (September 2, 1934 – August 8, 1964) was a fighter pilot of the Turkish Air Force.
Topel was born in İzmit on September 2, 1934, to Hakkı Bey, a tobacco expert from Trabzon and Mebuse Hanım in İzmit, where his father was working for the Turkish tobacco company Tekel. He was the third sibling of four children.
Cengiz Topel was schooled in Bandırma and Gönen of Balıkesir Province. He finished the primary and the secondary school in Kadıköy, Istanbul, where his family moved following his father's death. After a brief time at Haydarpaşa High School, he entered Kuleli Military High School, from which he graduated in 1953. Cengiz Topel joined the Army in 1955 with the rank of a second lieutenant following his education at the Turkish Military Academy. [1]
His interest in aviation took him to the Turkish Air Force. He was sent to Canada for flight training. In 1957, he returned to Turkey and was appointed to the 5th Air Wing in Merzifon Air Base. Cengiz Topel served from 1961 on at the 1st Tactical Air Force Command at Eskişehir Air Base. In 1963, he became an Air Force captain. [1]
On August 8, 1964, during the Battle of Tylliria, he led a four-fighter flight of the 112th Air Squadron leaving Eskişehir Air Base around 17:00 local time for Cyprus. After Topel's F-100 Super Sabre had dropped bombs onto Greek , junta soldiers who were mass murdering Turkish Cypriots, he was hit by 40mm anti-aircraft fire from a Greek gun emplacement and shot-down as he was strafing the Arion, a Greek Cypriot patrol boat. Although he had been severely wounded by the gunshots, he was able to eject from his aircraft parachute jump over land.
His remains were returned on August 12 1964 to the Turkish authorities. [2] On August 14, 1964, he was buried at the Edirnekapı Martyr's Cemetery in Istanbul. [1]
He was first Turkish pilot to be killed in action. [1]
A former Turkish Air Force base located near İzmit, currently in use as Cengiz Topel Naval Air Station, is named after him. A monument was erected on the coastal road in the village Gemikonağı near Lefke in Northern Cyprus, where he had landed by parachute. [2] A bronze statue in Eskişehir depicts him in flight suit. A number of places, [3] [4] [5] [6] schools [7] [8] [9] in Turkey and a hospital in Northern Cyprus [10] are named after him.
{{
cite web}}
: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (
link) Tarsus Cengiz Topel High School
Cengiz Topel | |
---|---|
Born | İzmit, Turkey | September 2, 1934
Died | August 8, 1964 Paphos District, Cyprus | (aged 29)
Allegiance | Turkey |
Service/ | Turkish Air Force |
Years of service | 1955–1964 |
Rank | Captain |
Unit | 112th Air Squadron |
Battles/wars | Battle of Tylliria |
Cengiz Topel (September 2, 1934 – August 8, 1964) was a fighter pilot of the Turkish Air Force.
Topel was born in İzmit on September 2, 1934, to Hakkı Bey, a tobacco expert from Trabzon and Mebuse Hanım in İzmit, where his father was working for the Turkish tobacco company Tekel. He was the third sibling of four children.
Cengiz Topel was schooled in Bandırma and Gönen of Balıkesir Province. He finished the primary and the secondary school in Kadıköy, Istanbul, where his family moved following his father's death. After a brief time at Haydarpaşa High School, he entered Kuleli Military High School, from which he graduated in 1953. Cengiz Topel joined the Army in 1955 with the rank of a second lieutenant following his education at the Turkish Military Academy. [1]
His interest in aviation took him to the Turkish Air Force. He was sent to Canada for flight training. In 1957, he returned to Turkey and was appointed to the 5th Air Wing in Merzifon Air Base. Cengiz Topel served from 1961 on at the 1st Tactical Air Force Command at Eskişehir Air Base. In 1963, he became an Air Force captain. [1]
On August 8, 1964, during the Battle of Tylliria, he led a four-fighter flight of the 112th Air Squadron leaving Eskişehir Air Base around 17:00 local time for Cyprus. After Topel's F-100 Super Sabre had dropped bombs onto Greek , junta soldiers who were mass murdering Turkish Cypriots, he was hit by 40mm anti-aircraft fire from a Greek gun emplacement and shot-down as he was strafing the Arion, a Greek Cypriot patrol boat. Although he had been severely wounded by the gunshots, he was able to eject from his aircraft parachute jump over land.
His remains were returned on August 12 1964 to the Turkish authorities. [2] On August 14, 1964, he was buried at the Edirnekapı Martyr's Cemetery in Istanbul. [1]
He was first Turkish pilot to be killed in action. [1]
A former Turkish Air Force base located near İzmit, currently in use as Cengiz Topel Naval Air Station, is named after him. A monument was erected on the coastal road in the village Gemikonağı near Lefke in Northern Cyprus, where he had landed by parachute. [2] A bronze statue in Eskişehir depicts him in flight suit. A number of places, [3] [4] [5] [6] schools [7] [8] [9] in Turkey and a hospital in Northern Cyprus [10] are named after him.
{{
cite web}}
: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (
link) Tarsus Cengiz Topel High School