F/O. Donald Stuart Turner
Royal Air Force 101 Squadron
from:Mapplewell, Barnsley
(d.23rd Sep 1943)
Flying Officer Donald Stuart Turner was my cousin although I never knew him personally because he died before I was born. Donald was an apprentice electrician at a colliery near Barnsley. At 6 foot 4 inches tall, he was ill-suited for both working in coal seams or the confines of a plane. He could of course have sat out the war in relative peace as a colliery worker but he had always wanted to fly. He left his reserved occupation to train as a pilot and joined 101 Squadron, eventually to be stationed at Ludford Magna.
Donald was commended for bringing his Lancaster home from Italy on just two engines. On his 13th mission, on 23rd September 1943, Donald’s plane was hit by flak during a raid on Mannheim. He nursed the plane on to Metz in France but eventually crashed in open ground near the French town. Two of the crew survived but the remainder, Donald included, were killed. They were quickly buried by the French Resistance and then after the war were re-interred together at Choloy War Cemetery near Toul in France. Donald was just 20 when he died.
Donald left a grieving family, parents Hubert and Edith, and sisters, Eileen and Gloria, both of whom are still alive. Donald was engaged to be married at the time of his death. Donald had written a letter to be given to his parents and sisters in the eventuality of him being captured or killed. Written when he was just 19 and in training in Canada, he explained with amazing clarity his preparedness for whatever lay ahead: “It is a life of my own choosing and I have no regrets. The risks I run, I run cheerfully. I bear no malice and I look forward to everlasting peace. In the event of my being unfortunate, then that is too bad. I hope that I did not die in vain......I am now a Pilot Officer with Wings, serious work ahead. Waiting patiently for a boat to take me back to the land and people I love.” Donald closes the letter with the wish: “If no news is heard of me for two months, please consider me dead and do not mourn for me. I would hate that. Just carry on your normal life. Bear up... show the world you can take it. Do your utmost to win the war. Your Loving and Devoted Son and Brother and Friend, Donald.”
I was brought up with stories of Donald’s bravery and untimely death from my mother, his aunt, but I only came to fully appreciate the tremendous courage and commitment Donald had shown as I grew older. Though genuinely remarkable, Donald’s selflessness and commitment to the cause of freedom and justice was by no means unique, as the testimonies on this website so clearly demonstrate. The courage of this generation of men and women is truly humbling and those of us who have had the good fortune to live in prosperity, never having been shot at or in real danger, must not forget the debt we owe to these young people who stepped forward and said “That’s simply not right. I’ll do something about it.” We must not squander the freedom they gave us. If anyone has any information about Donald’s life, I would love to hear it.
