Lt. Grant M. Turley

Lt. Grant M. Turley

“On the first daylight air raid on Berlin, March 6, 1944, Grant went down in his P-47 Thunderbolt fighter plane over Germany.This collection of writings and pictures is dedicated to the memory of Grant, a valiant young man who was willing to put his life on the line in defense of the freedom and values he held dear.”

—Wanda Turley Smith, 1994 (excerpt from book Foreword)

Read about Arizona’s First WWII Ace Fighter Pilot!

“From boyhood he wanted to fly. … A star student and outstanding athlete, … Grant left Sundown Ranch (Snowflake, Arizona) August 5, 1942 for training in the U.S. Air Force. He received his wings … was sent overseas to England … and was stationed at Duxford in the Eighth Air Force.

“February 10, 1944 he got his first shots somewhere over Germany and … brought down two ME-109 German fighter planes. February 11, he downed two more planes and the 20th downed his fifth, making him Arizona’s first Ace pilot in World War II.

“Lt. Grant Turley never made it back … when he shot down his seventh plane. He was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross and Silver Star along with his Purple Heart. Truly he was a courageous fighter pilot.”

—Excerpts from an address by Hyrum A Hendrickson – “These Dead Shall Not Have Died in Vain” Snowflake High School Losses.

Reprinted with additional pictures and minor updates in the script. 2006.