Memorable Manitobans: Charles Bruce Turner (1904-1944)

Military administrator.

Born at Kingston, Ontario on 23 March 1904, son of Major Charles Turner (1869-1928) and Ida May Turner (c1875-1955), he received education locally and, at the age of 13 during the First World War, served with the Army Service Corps at Kingston. In 1923, he joined the Canadian Field Artillery until enlisting with the Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF) in March 1927, working as Pilot Officer of Air Member for Supply and as Equipment Officer at Ottawa. A Flight Lieutenant by 1934, he attained the rank of Squadron Leader by the onset of the Second World War and was named Wing Commander by 1940. Promotion to Group Captain took place on 1 January 1942. He was posted to No. 4 Squadron at Vancouver, British Columbia in 1934, and twice attended a Royal Air Force College in Britain, first taking a three-month explosives course (1934) and upgrading to special staff (1939). Around 1940, he was Director of Equipment and Maintenance, based out of the RCAF Headquarters at Ottawa, and worked as Director of Aircraft Procurement (1943), with responsibility including the Air Training Command No. 2, for six months prior to being named Commanding Officer (1943-1944) of the Equipment Depot No. 7 in Winnipeg. He and his wife Grace had no children. He died at Winnipeg, during his command, on 2 September 1944.

Sources:

1911 Canada census, Automated Genealogy.

“Leaves for England,” Ottawa Journal, 5 May 1934, page 30.

“Announce transfers of Air Force Officers,” Ottawa Journal, 8 September 1934, page 23.

“R.C.A.F. Equipment Director inspects,” Winnipeg Tribune, 11 November 1940, page 11.

“Charles B. Turner,” Ottawa Journal, 22 January 1942, page 12.

“R.C.A.F. Official,” Winnipeg Tribune, 20 October 1942, page 13.

“Group Capt. C.B. Turner,” Winnipeg Free Press, 30 June 1943, page 8.

“Air Official finishes tour,” Winnipeg Tribune, 2 November 1943, page 9.

“Canadian takes over at Equipment Depot,” Winnipeg Tribune, 29 June 1943, page 13.

“GC. C.B. Turner, No. 7 Equipment Depot O.C., dies,” Winnipeg Tribune, 5 September 1944, page 13.

Obituary, Winnipeg Free Press, 6 September 1944, page 2.

“Group Capt. Turner rites in Ottawa,” Winnipeg Tribune, 7 September 1944, page 2.

“Mrs. Charles Turner,” Ottawa Journal, 15 June 1955, page 14.

This page was prepared by Nathan Kramer.

Page revised: 14 October 2017

Memorable Manitobans This is a collection of noteworthy Manitobans from the past, compiled by the Manitoba Historical Society. We acknowledge that the collection contains both reputable and disreputable people. All are worth remembering as a lesson to future generations. Search the collection by word or phrase, name, place, occupation or other text: Custom Search Browse surnames beginning with: A | B | C | D | E | F | G | H | I | J | K | L | M | N | O | P | Q | R | S | T | U | V | W | Y | Z Browse deaths occurring in: 1984 | 1985 | 1986 | 1987 | 1988 | 1989 | 1990 | 1991 | 1992 | 1993 | 1994 | 1995 | 1996 | 1997 | 1998 | 1999 | 2000 | 2001 | 2002 | 2003 | 2004 | 2005 | 2006 | 2007 | 2008 | 2009 | 2010 | 2011 | 2012 | 2013 | 2014 | 2015 | 2016 | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 Send corrections and additions to this page to the Memorable Manitobans Administrator at biographies@mhs.mb.ca Criteria for Memorable Manitobans | Suggest a Memorable Manitoban | Firsts | Acknowledgements Help us keep history alive!