9 missions shot down on France on 8/12/44 in 'Ole Cock' B-24, Prisoner of War (POW)



Turley flew nine missions in ten days with 506th Sqdn. On the pre-flight checks for No 9 the ground crew reported that the fuel gauges were registering low, even though the fuel had just been topped up. The pilot took the decision to fly, assuming that the gauges were faulty and that it was only a 'milk run' to an airport near Paris. After the bomb run the engines began to fail and the pilot left the squadron, put the plane into a glide, dumped all excess baggage and hoped to make it to a landing strip occupied by the Allies. In this they failed, of the seven men who jumped five were captured, two evaded and three men died when the plane crashed. Turley was eventually incarcerated in Stalag Luft 1 at Barth where he stayed until liberated by the Russians on 2nd May 1945.



Air Medal w/2Oak Leaf Cluster/Purple Heart/Victory Medal/Good Conduct/EAME Ribbon