H. G. Turner Aids New Gunners

Staff Sgt. Harlyn G. Turner, whose wife resides at 2120 Windsor avenue, is now a gunnery instructor at a second division Liberator base in England, commanded by Col. Troy W. Crawford, El Paso, Tex.

The holder of the distringuished flying cross, he has been cited for serving as a gunner of a B-24 Liberator on many bombardment missions over enemy-occupied continental Europe. "Displaying great courage and skill, fighting from his gun position he has warded off many enemy attacks and has materially aided in the successful completion of each mission. The courage, coolness, and exceptional skill displayed by Sgt. Turner on all these occassions reflects the highest credit upon himself and the armed forces of the United States," the citation reads.

Sgt. Turner is now teaching new gunners the tricks he learned in combat.

Air corps commanders say the gunner must feel a pride and a sense of grave responsibility in the importance of his job. When enemy fighters attack, it is the job of the gunner to beat them off. He must think of his own safe return, the lives of the other crew members, and the success of the bombing mission.

It is Sgt. Turner's job to pass along the information he has on taking care of equipment so well that it will never fail in sub-zero weather and at high altitude, and the trick of taking a portion of the sky assigned to the gunner and searching systematically into the sun and in broken clouds for enemy fighters which may be hiding there. The gunner must be on his toes for any tricks which the Naxi fighter may try and must be ready to fight off any enemy planes which plan to interfere with the bombing formations heading for the target.

Sgt. Turner entered the service Nov. 28, 1942, and at the time was employed by the Farley and Loetscher Manufacturing company here. He received his wings at Wendover field, Utah.

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