Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-10-29
COL. TURNER DIES
OF PLANE INJURIES
Marine Aviation Chief win Be
Buried In Arlington, Prob
ably November 8.

Col. Thomas Caldwell Turner, Marine
Corps aviation chief. who died yester-
day az Port "a Prince, Haiti, from In
ifrles received Monday when he slipped
into the propeller of his plane ct Con-
kives. Haiti, wfii be buried IN airing
ton National Cemetery with fun mffi-
tary honors, probably On November 8.
The u. 3. s. KitteTy u 10 leave Port
al Prince today with the body Of Col.
Turner and ts expected 70 arrive &C
Hampton Roads November 5. In the
weather, the funeral win be held on
the day following is arrival ct Hamp-
ton Roads.
Word OF Col. Turner'S death was re-
eeived here By naval radio last night
The fatal accident occurred when he
slipped IN the mud while attempting 20
clear q big transport plane, which he
had flown 10 Haiti from Washington.
after II had begged down on . soft
field near GonafveS.
Taken 10 Port al Prince.
A naval tug was sent from Port au
Prince and he was hurried to o hos
pltal there, but failed TO respond TO
the treatment Of q stan Of naval med
ical officers. He died without regain
ing consciousness.
Col. Turner was known 20 associates
at Marine Corps headquarters here and
in the Naval Bureau Of Aeronautics,
where he was On duty, a. an able and
courageous flyer. He also was known
as an athlete and % an eficient and
popular officer. He was an outstanding
player on a famous base ball team rep
resenting the Marine Corps in the
Philippines In 1910. He played golf
well and was q hunting enthusiast and
an eilgeT fisherman. He took keen
interest In foot ball.
Col Turner made his home ct I627
Nineteenth street. He leaves his wife,
Mrs. Ethel Turner, and their two chill
dren, Thomas Livingston Turner, IA,
and Anne Harrison Turner, is. His
mother. Mrs. Mary Turner. by special
leave. still makes her home on the
where Col. Turner was born, March 20.
1882.
Enlisted In 1901.
Enlisting In the Marine Corps Jam
uary a., 1901, Col. Turner was dts
as a second lieutenant IN the service TO
which his life was devoted. He won
his first ieutenancy In 1908, was COM
nissioned q captain IN 1908, major In
1916, lieutenant colonel In April, 1921,
and colonel on September /, $780,
AS junior officers he served aboard
several vessels and at various posts and
stations in the United States, the
Philippines and Porto Rico. Attached
10 the LIST Brigade of Marines, he
served during the American occupation
OF Vera Cruz, Mexico. Early in 1918
Turner began his aviation career and
In that wear was attached to the Army
and put in command of the Army flying
held at Ellington, Tex, until after the
war. when he returned 70 Marine duty
As a major ne served with the 1st
provisional Brigade OF Marines in Haiti
from October, 1919, to November, 1920,
and won the Medaille Militaire of that
country for repulsing with remarkable
valor an attack OF insurgents against
the capital.
Came Here In 1920.
In 1870 he was ordered to duty at
Marine Corps headquarters here as ON
Ger IN charge Of aviation and aide
70 the Secretary of the Navy. While on
this tour OF duty he won the Distin-
extended flight to santo Domingo, the
hneeSt unguAFdAd land plAne AIrht over
water up TO that time. In March. 1925
racks At Snsnsacoa sn eo Manane q b az
LIST Aviation Group.
Col. turner returned % the Army on
september IA, 1926, when he was or
dered 70 the Army Air Corps Tactical
School at Langley Field, Va. He com
pleted the course and was awarded
the diploma in June. 1927, Just IN time
% go to China IS aviation leader with
the Sd Brigade Marines on emergency
duty there. He returned 70 this eOsln-
Try In November, i926, and commanded
the aircraft SQuadrons at Quantico until
May. 1929. when he returned to Wash
ington to resume command Of ali Ma
rtne aviation activities
he took part in the Nicaraguan earth
quake relief several months ago and re-
eelved numerous letters of comnlenda-
ton for the part he played there. He
was holder Of the Haitian Medaille
Militaire, awarded him twice: the VIC
tory Medal and Button; Expeditionary
Medal, China. 1919 and 1928. and the
Mexican and Haitian Campaign Badges.
He left Washington week ago today
on the flight which resulted in his
death.