Robert Turkington

Robert Wilkinson "Paddy" Turkington, (1920 – 29 July 1945) was a Northern Irish Second World War Royal Air Force (RAF) fighter pilot and flying ace. He had 9 confirmed kills, 3 shared kills, 1 probable kill, and 4 damaged aircraft; some sources credit him with 11 kills.

Early life and education Turkington was born in 1920 in Mhow, British Raj

Military service Turkington enlisted in the Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve (RAFVR) in 1940, and trained as a pilot in Canada. On 1 October 1942, he was promoted from pilot officer (on probation) to the war substantive rank of flying officer (on probation). He was promoted to war substantive squadron leader on 7 January 1944.

Turkington first served with No. 43 Squadron RAF, and flew a Hawker Hurricane with them on the Dieppe Raid of 19 August 1942. Following Victory in Europe, he was based in Italy with No. 241 Squadron RAF. In September 1944, he was awarded a bar to his DFC (i.e. awarded the medal for the second time). In April 1945, he was awarded the Distinguished Service Order (DSO). He also received the 1939–1945 Star, Africa Star with "North Africa 1942-43" clasp, Italy Star, Defence Medal and War Medal 1939–1945. His medals sold in 2017 for £22,000.