Turnock, John Sivyer (Sergeant, b.1913 - d.1942)

Collection relating to the Second World War service of 404688 Sergeant John Sivyer 'Siv' Turnock, 460 Squadron, Royal Australian Air Force, Australia, Canada and the United Kingdom, 19410-1942.

Wallet 1 of 1 – Consists of one flying log book of Sergeant John Sivyer Turnock, containing entries dated between 10 January 1941 and 13 March 1942. This log book covers the period of Sergeant Turnock’s flying training in Australia and Canada, operational training in the United Kingdom, and service with 460 Squadron, based in the United Kingdom. The entries record details such as dates and times of flights, aircraft types and numbers, names of other crewmembers, and purposes of flights. Some of the purposes of flights include elementary flying training, service flying training, operational training, cross country flights, practice circuits, and aircraft tests. The last entry records Sergeant Turnock’s first operational flight, from which he failed to return.

Sergeant John Sivyer “Siv” Turnock enlisted to the Royal Australian Air Force on 8 November 1940. He undertook his elementary flying training at Narrandera, New South Wales, and his service flying training at Calgary, Alberta, Canada. In late 1941, Sergeant Turnock did his operational training at Lichfield, Staffordshire, England. He went on to serve with 460 Squadron based in Yorkshire, England, from 2 January 1942. On 13 March 1942, Sergeant Turnock started his first operational flight, serving as second pilot of a Vickers Wellington aircraft. It was one of five aircraft destined for a raid on Ostende, Belgium. However, the aircraft crashed and exploded at St. Joris, Niewpoort, Belgium, instantly killing all crewmembers. Sergeant Turnock and his crew were buried by local people at St. Joris Communal Cemetery, Belgium.