Robert Wilkinson "Paddy" Turkington, DSO, DFC & Bar (1920 – 29 July 1945) was a Northern Irish Second World War Royal Air Force (RAF) fighter pilot and flying ace. He had 9 confirmed kills, 3 shared kills, 1 probable kill, and 4 damaged aircraft. [1] [2] [3]
Turkington was born in 1920 in Mhow, British Raj [1] or in Derrytrasna, County Armagh, Northern Ireland. [4] Between 1933 and 1939, he was educated at Lurgan College, a grammar school in Craigavon, County Armagh. [4]
Turkington enlisted in the Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve (RAFVR) in 1940, and trained as a pilot in Canada. [1] [5] [6] On 1 October 1942, he was promoted from pilot officer (on probation) to the war substantive rank of flying officer (on probation). [7] He was promoted to war substantive squadron leader on 7 January 1944. [8]
Turkington first served with No. 43 Squadron RAF, and flew a Hawker Hurricane with them on the Dieppe Raid of 19 August 1942. [1] By November 1942, he was fighting over North Africa. [5] He converted to the Supermarine Spitfire in 1943, and was involved in fighting over Sicily and Italy. [5] By November 1943, he was a fighter ace, with at least 5 confirmed kills. [5] He flew a total of 766 operational hours with 43 Squadron. [1] He was then a flight commander in No. 241 Squadron RAF, during which he destroyed four Messerschmitt Bf 109s. [5] From July 1944 to January 1945, he was officer commanding No. 601 Squadron RAF. [9] Following Victory in Europe, he was based in Italy with No. 241 Squadron RAF. [1]
In January 1944, he was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross (DFC). [10] In September 1944, he was awarded a bar to his DFC (i.e. awarded the medal for the second time). [11] In April 1945, he was awarded the Distinguished Service Order (DSO). [12] He also received the 1939–1945 Star, Africa Star with "North Africa 1942-43" clasp, Italy Star, Defence Medal and War Medal 1939–1945. [13] His medals sold in 2017 for £22,000. [6] [3]
Having been killed in a flying accident on 29 July 1945, [1] he is buried in the Padua War Cemetery, Italy. [14]
Flight Lieutenant Robert Wilkinson TURKINGTON, D.F.C. (117519), R.A.F.V.R., 241 Sqn. This officer has set a fine example of skill, determination and devotion to duty. He has completed a large number of sorties and much of the success, achieved by the squadron can be attributed to this officer's efficiency and resolution. During a sortie in July, he destroyed one and probably destroyed a second enemy aircraft although only one cannon was functioning in his aircraft. Flight Lieutenant Turkington is a gallant and inspiring Flight Commander.
Robert Wilkinson "Paddy" Turkington, DSO, DFC & Bar (1920 – 29 July 1945) was a Northern Irish Second World War Royal Air Force (RAF) fighter pilot and flying ace. He had 9 confirmed kills, 3 shared kills, 1 probable kill, and 4 damaged aircraft. [1] [2] [3]
Turkington was born in 1920 in Mhow, British Raj [1] or in Derrytrasna, County Armagh, Northern Ireland. [4] Between 1933 and 1939, he was educated at Lurgan College, a grammar school in Craigavon, County Armagh. [4]
Turkington enlisted in the Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve (RAFVR) in 1940, and trained as a pilot in Canada. [1] [5] [6] On 1 October 1942, he was promoted from pilot officer (on probation) to the war substantive rank of flying officer (on probation). [7] He was promoted to war substantive squadron leader on 7 January 1944. [8]
Turkington first served with No. 43 Squadron RAF, and flew a Hawker Hurricane with them on the Dieppe Raid of 19 August 1942. [1] By November 1942, he was fighting over North Africa. [5] He converted to the Supermarine Spitfire in 1943, and was involved in fighting over Sicily and Italy. [5] By November 1943, he was a fighter ace, with at least 5 confirmed kills. [5] He flew a total of 766 operational hours with 43 Squadron. [1] He was then a flight commander in No. 241 Squadron RAF, during which he destroyed four Messerschmitt Bf 109s. [5] From July 1944 to January 1945, he was officer commanding No. 601 Squadron RAF. [9] Following Victory in Europe, he was based in Italy with No. 241 Squadron RAF. [1]
In January 1944, he was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross (DFC). [10] In September 1944, he was awarded a bar to his DFC (i.e. awarded the medal for the second time). [11] In April 1945, he was awarded the Distinguished Service Order (DSO). [12] He also received the 1939–1945 Star, Africa Star with "North Africa 1942-43" clasp, Italy Star, Defence Medal and War Medal 1939–1945. [13] His medals sold in 2017 for £22,000. [6] [3]
Having been killed in a flying accident on 29 July 1945, [1] he is buried in the Padua War Cemetery, Italy. [14]
Flight Lieutenant Robert Wilkinson TURKINGTON, D.F.C. (117519), R.A.F.V.R., 241 Sqn. This officer has set a fine example of skill, determination and devotion to duty. He has completed a large number of sorties and much of the success, achieved by the squadron can be attributed to this officer's efficiency and resolution. During a sortie in July, he destroyed one and probably destroyed a second enemy aircraft although only one cannon was functioning in his aircraft. Flight Lieutenant Turkington is a gallant and inspiring Flight Commander.