Cpl. Robert James Turner was born, in the Mount Greenwood neighborhood of Chicago, on January 2, 1922, to Elmer D. Turner and Julia McKeon-Turner and had a sister. His family resided at 2735 North 75th Avenue, Elmwood Park, Illinois. He graduated from John Mills School, and since Elmwood Park was not in a high school district, chose to attend Proviso Township High School, Maywood, Illinois. He graduated in 1939 and attended the University of Illinois, Urbana/Champaign, where he studied mechanical engineering. He then worked at Electro-Motive Corporation in La Grange Park, married June Rioux, and was the father of a daughter. The family resided at 3005 North Normandy Avenue, Chicago.
Robert registered with Selective Service on June 24, 1942, and named his father as his contact person. He was inducted into the US Army on August 13, 1943. Since he had scored well on Army General Classification Test, he was allowed to volunteer to join the Army Air Corps and issued the serial number 36 764 671. In no particular order, it is known that he trained at Miami Army Airfield, Florida, Camp Harlingen, Killeen, Texas, Pueblo Army Airfield, Colorado, where he qualified as a waist gunner. He received additional combat training, but it is not known where.
After completing his training, he was sent to the North Africa area as a replacement in the 459th Bomb Group (Heavy), 757th Bomb Squadron, 15th Air Force, and assigned to a B-24 Liberator as a waist gunner. The other members of his crew were 2nd Lt. Glee M. Fox, Pilot; 2nd. Lt. John Dunlop, co-pilot; 2nd Lt. Frank B. McDurner, Navigator; 2nd Lt. Anthony N. Brell, bombardier; Cpl. Roy H. Ferguson, engineer; S/Sgt. Donald M. Clark, radio operator; Cpl. Vincent A. Malone, waist gunner; Sgt. Charles Green, ball turret; and Sgt. Lyman R. Doerr, top turret. When he joined the squadron, it was stationed in Italy.
Robert’s squadron flew missions over Italy and supported the invasion of Southern France known as Operation Dragoon. On August 15, 1944, while supporting the invasion, his plane took off from Giulia Airfield #1, Italy, at approximately 3:35 am. Three minutes after taking off and about ten miles north of the airfield the plane went down killing all the members of the crew. After the crash, the plane burned since it was fully loaded with fuel and bombs. The controller, in the tower at the airfield, stated that 2nd Lt. Fox never reported there was a problem. Robert’s body was taken to the United States Military Cemetery, Bari, Italy, and buried in Plot H, Row 10, Grave 1120, the evening of the 15th.
His wife was sent a telegram.
JUNE TURNER
2207 NORTH 72ND COURT
ELMWOOD PARK ILLINOIS
THE SECRETARY OF WAR DESIRES ME TO EXPRESS HIS DEEPEST REGRET THAT YOUR HUSBAND CORPORAL ROBERT J TURNER WAS KILLED IN ACTION ON SEVENTEEN AUGUST IN NORTH AFRICA AREA LETTER FOLLOWS
ULIO THE ADJUTANT GENERAL
The content of the letter is not known.
After the war, the American Graves Registration Service had the job of recovering the dead and moving them to a permanent US military cemetery. Correspondence continued between the Office of the Quartermaster General, Washington DC. and June Turner. His wife received a letter dated April 29, 1947, telling her of the location of the cemetery and the location of Robert’s grave in the cemetery. She was also told that in another letter she would receive information about Robert’s final burial. The OQMG was unaware that June Turner had remarried on October 12, 1946. Her remarriage made his father his next-of-kin.
Another letter was sent to her, dated July 8, 1947, providing her with the options for Robert’s final burial. She was asked to complete an enclosed form and return it to the Office of the Quartermaster General, Washington DC. The form was returned to the OQMG on July 14, 1947, indicating she had remarried and that his father was now Robert’s next-of-kin. Elmer Turner received the same letter and was asked to complete and return the same form. The form was received by the OQMG on October 16, 1947, and indicated that he wanted Robert returned to Illinois for burial.
Robert’s remains were exhumed from the USMC, Bari, Italy, and taken to the Naples Port Morgue where his remains were casketed. On October 20, 1948, his casket was placed on the USAT Lawrence Victory which sailed the same day. The ship arrived at the New York Port of Entry on November 5th and his casket remained there until the 9th. On the 9th, it was sent by train, with a military escort, to the Quartermaster Corps’ Distribution Center #8, Chicago, arriving on the 12th.
Robert’s casket was taken in a military hearse to the Daniel J. Murphy Funeral Home, Elmwood Park, on December 6, 1948. The next day, December 7, 1948, Cpl. Robert J. Turner was buried in Elmwood Cemetery in River Grove, Illinois.
