
Master SGT. Samuel O. Turner - Lackland AFB
Posted by:
BruceS
N 29° 23.014 W 098° 38.020
14R E 535548 N 3250538
Memorial for the accomplishments of a B-52 gunner for actions in Vietnam.
Waymark Code: WM3BYN
Location: Texas, United States
Date Posted: 03/11/2008
Views: 62
B-52
... an enlisted story.
Master SGT. Samuel O. Turner
The first of only two cases where B-52 enlisted gunners scored victories
over attacking fighters occurred Dec. 18, 1972, then Staff SGT. Sam Turner and
the crew of "Brown 3" launched on a Linebacker II mission out of Utapao AB,
Thailand, seeking to enforce U.S. policy of bombing a reluctant Hanoi
negotiating team back peace taks in Paris. The North Vietnamese fired
surface to air missiles by the dozens when word reach the crew that a MIG-21
fighter was in the area. Sergeant Turner soon picked up two widely
separated MIGS on his fire control radar. As the first fighter closed and
locked on to the bomber, he let go with a burst from his quad .50-caliber
machineguns. At first Sergeant Turner couldn't determine if the resulting
explosion was his target or and errant SAM, moments later he looked at his
radar, the MIG had disappeared and the accompanying fighter fled. Another
B-52D gunner reported seeing the MIG go down in flames. The 30 year old,
Atlanta, Ga. native earned the Silver Star. ~ text of plaque