Turner, Owen W. (P2, C4, L26)

First Lieutenant Owen W. Turner, 29, of Pleasure Ridge, Jefferson County, Kentucky, died when his burning plane crashed near Piedmont, Alabama on 28 January 1957 some sixty miles west of Atlanta. Turner was flying a T-28 from the Naval Air Station at Atlanta for a navigational proficiency flight to Standiford Field in Louisville. Turner decided to return to Atlanta because of worsening weather conditions in his flight path. Turner joined the Kentucky Air National Guard in 1948 and was a member of the 165th Fighter Interceptor Squadron.

Kentucky Guard Pilot is Killed

The Advocate-Messenger Danville 29 Jan 1957 Page 5

Piedmont, Ala. (AP) - A Kentucky Air National Guard pilot, apparently off course in overcast weather, died yesterday when his burning plane crashed near here.

Witnesses reported that the propeller-driven T-28 trainer was on fire when it plunged out of the clouds and dived straight into a cotton field.

The pilot was identified as First Lt. Owen W. Turner, Pleasure Ridge Park, Ky.

Air National Guard authorities said Turner was enroute from Atlanta to Louisville, but apparently turned back to Atlanta because of poor visibility at Louisville's Standiford Field.

Piedmont is about 75 miles west of Atlanta in east Alabama.

Piedmont Fire Chief Thomas E. Parker said witnesses told him the plan was "on fire when it hit."

The impact dug a deep hole in which much of the charred wreckage was buried. Piedmont firemen sprayed foam on the burning plane until it was cool enough so the body could be removed.