Turner, Charles Frederick

Killed in Flying Accident 1942-07-22

Birth Date: 1915

Born:

Son of Charles and Fedelia E. Turner, of Willowdale, Ontario.

Home: Willowdale, Ontario

Enlistment:

Enlistment Date: Unknown

Service

RAF

Unit

126 (F) Sqn- Squadron

Base

Rank

Flight Lieutenant

Position

Flight Lieutenant

Service Numbers

40960

Home
Google MapWillowdale, Ontario
First Burial
Google MapOttawa War Memorial, Ottawa, Ontario
126 Flying Lancers Squadron. Hurricane aircraft BW 871 failed to return from operations. Flight Lieutenant Turner had flown Spitfire aircraft with 145 Squadron in the Battle of Britain.

Canadian Virtual War Memorial

Commonwealth War Graves Commission

www.findagrave.com

Library and Archives Canada Service Files (may not exist)

This incident involved multiple aircraft:

  1. Sea Hurricane Serial: BW871

All the above aircraft in the above list are referenced in this report.

Findagrave.com

Sea Hurricane BW871

Flight Lieutenant Turner, Charles Frederick (RAF)
Pilot
Killed in Flying Accident
1942-July-22
Ottawa War Memorial, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada

Hawker Sea Hurricane

Source: Harold A Skaarup Web Page (Library and Archives Canada Photo, MIKAN No. 4982739)
Hawker Sea Hurricane Mk. XIIA (Serial No. BW850), coded BV-T, No. 126 (Fighter) Squadron, RCAF, patrolling from its base at Dartmouth, Nova Scotia, 9 Aug 1942. This Hurricane has been converted to the Mk. XIIA version by Canadian Car and Foundry (CCF). This aircraft retains its eight-gun wing and the tail hook.
60f9983cb349435ca5985742_Hawker-Hurricane--RCAF-No--126-Sqn--BV-code---9-Aug-1942--MIKAN-No--4982739.jpg image not found

While the Sea Hurricane never served in the Royal Canadian Navy, it was, ironically, operated by the Royal Canadian Air Force.  In late 1941, the RCAF found itself without any frontline fighters, having sent its earlier Hawker Hurricanes off to the UK along with 1 (Fighter) Squadron, RCAF, and was having a hard time procuring additional fighters to meet its needs.

For reasons that are still slightly unclear, the RCAF received 50 Sea Hurricanes in 1942.  It is assumed that these aircraft, built in Thunder Bay, Ontario by Canadian Car and Foundry, were to be used as part of the Fleet Air Arm (FAA) Merchant Ship Fighting Unit (MSFU) based in Canada, but were diverted to the RCAF.  These Sea Hurricanes were basically a Hurricane Mk. I with a tail-hook, catapult spools, a short blunt de Havilland spinner, and an eight gun wing.  Harold A Skaarup Web Page

General Harold A Skaarup Web Page

Wikipedia Wikipedia Hawker Hurricane variants

Sea Hurricane BW871

Sea Hurricane BW871

Stored at Dartmouth, as reserve aircraft for the Merchant Ship Fighter Unit of the RAF. With No. 126 (F) Squadron at RCAF Station Dartmouth, NS when it stalled and spun into Pendant Harbour, NS on 22 July 1942. Pilot Flight Lieutenant C.F. Turner, a Canadian serving in the RAF, was killed.

1942-01-08 Taken on Strength No. 118 (F) Squadron 2019-08-20
1942-July-22 Accident: 126 Squadron Loc: Dartmouth Names: Turner
1942-09-23 Struck off Strength Struck off after crash, see comments 2019-08-20