, William T. Mattison, John A. Gibson,
Elwood T. Driver,
Price D. Rice, Andrew D. Turner , Lt. Carroll S. Woods, Lt. Robert H. Nelson, Jr., Capt. Andrew D. Turner, and Lt.
Clarence P. Lester. (U.S. Air Force photo) On 9 October 1942, Turner graduated from Tuskegee's cadet pilot training class 42-I-SE, receiving his wings and a commission as a
2nd Lieutenant. The U.S. Army Air Corps assigned Turner to the
332nd Fighter Group's 100th Fighter Squadron. In June 1944, Turner became the 100th Fighter Squadron's commanding officer, after previous squadron commander, Lieutenant
Robert B. Tresville, failed to return from a mission. On 18 July 1944, he was credited with damaging a German
Bf 109 aircraft. During
World War II, he flew a total of 69 missions. He returned to the U.S. on 10 June 1945 and on 17 July became the deputy commander of the
477th Fighter Group at
Godman Army Airfield which was training in preparation for deployment to the
Pacific Theater. After the war Turner stayed in the USAAF and continued to serve in the 477th as it moved to
Lockbourne Army Airfield in March 1946. With the reorganization of the 477th into the 332nd Fighter Group and then the 332nd Fighter Wing in mid-1946 he became the Wing's operations and training officer. ==Awards==