(Son of Charles Anderson & Florra Turnbo)

Several years ago, the writer found an old Navy trunk that formerly belonged to Weldon Turnbo. It contains several items that gave a unique insight into this young man. The items that follow are taken first, from a college paper he wrote in April, 1952, entitled "My School Life" and second, from a letter dated July 17, 1945, from the United States Navy,

"MY SCHOOL LIFE"

  "As I recall the past experiences of my life, I think that I shall never see such good times anymore."

  "In 1928 I started to Long Cove School under the guidance of Mrs. Bell Hines, a woman who had been teaching in that sector many years. It was a small school and I had only two classmates. Mrs. Hines was then noted to be the best teacher in the country to teach a student to read and write. In the next year at school I was very lucky or studious, I don't know which. For it was in that year that I made both the second and third grades, it was the only time I ever did that, and I felt that I had accomplished a great deal."

  "I will always remember my year in the fourth grade. I had a young neighbor man for my teacher, whom I thought was tops. It was in that year that I received a very nice leather belt for making the best grades in the class."

  "I went to school in almost every way and contrivance possible. I walked the three miles to school a lot of times. Sometimes we went (my brother and I) in our car, and one year we rode with the teacher who lived only about one-half mile from our place. I think when I had the most fun was riding horses to school, for I had some very spirited horses that were always only too willing to go. I remember one catastrophe I had with one of my horses. We had a grove of trees where we tied our horses, and it was here I had mine. Another boy had turned his loose, and his horse fought mine and broke her loose. In the fight she fell over a barbed wire fence and got tangled up in the tierope so that she could not get up. Besides not being able to get up, she was being choked by the rope's tightening around her neck. A woman called our attention to it (we were in class and of course didn't see it) just in time, for the horse would have died from choking in a very short while. This caused a bit of excitement, and everyone ran out to Investigate."

  "It was in my fifth grade in school that I had diphtheria, a dreaded disease that was sweeping the country at that time. It kept me out of school for a month. Time passed, and I finally reached the seventh grade, that last grade before high school. I had heard all my life that the seventh grade was by far the hardest grade of them all, but I found that this was not so. That year was my big year because when I passed the exams that the county sent out, I was entitled to go to the rural seventh grade graduation at the county seat, Lampasas. This was a big event, as pupils from rural schools all over the county were present. I remember having a very happy feeling as I sat in the courtroom and heard my name called out."

  "Those grammar and high school days gradually passed on into college days. My first year at John Tarleton College (Stephenville, Texas) is drawing to a close, and I have enjoyed it very much. I have had some excellent teachers and have accomplished a great deal." (Verbatim from hand written college paper, by Weldon Turnbo, April 23, 1942, Tarleton State College).

  Some two years later, Weldon Turnbo Joined the U.S. Navy and became a fighter pilot seeing action In World War II. A letter found in his old trunk described his last flight.

Bombing Fighting Squadron 86
C/o Fleet Post Office
San Francisco, California
July 17, 1945

Mr. and Mrs. C. A. Turnbo
Rural Route #2
Lometa, Texas

Dear Mr. and Mrs. Turnbo:
  It is with the keenest dismay that I learned of the death of your son, Lieutenant (Junior grade) Richard W. Turnbo in a plane crash at sea on Friday, June 15, 1945. Tex, as he was known familiarly in the squadron, was scheduled to participate in a flight of sixteen planes, which was to make a simulated attack on our carrier. He was launched at approximately 8:00 AM and after take-off, proceeded to join up on the leader of the flight, at 1,000 feet altitude. At approximately 8:13 AM his engine cut out and he started to lose altitude immediately. At approximately 300 feet, he was able to start his engine again and he gave the thumbs up signal to one of the pilots who followed him down. He then started climbing but when he had reached approximately 600 feet, his engine cut out once again. He descended and prepared to make a water landing. He made a full stall landing, into the wind. His plane landed on the crest of a wave and immediately nosed over and submerged except for the tall section. About thirty seconds later, the entire plane was engulfed. Several planes circled over the scene and a destroyer rushed to the oil slick left by by the wreckage and searched unsuccessfully for Tex. Tex was never observed during or after the impact.

  Memorial services were held aboard the carrier at 4:00 PM on Sunday, June 17, 1945.

  There is little need to tell you how badly Tex's loss is felt by every member of the squadron. He was an excellent pilot and was courageous, calm and dependable in combat. He was extremely popular with all of the boys and I can never remember him without a cheery word and a happy smile for everybody. We share your pride in him. If there is anything I can do to be of help to you, please do not hesitate to get In touch with me.

Sincerely yours,
S/H.E. Tennes,
H.E. Tennes,
Lt. commander, USNR
Commanding Officer