On completing his training in the autumn of 1939, he was posted No 219 Squadron to fly Blenheims, but quickly converted to Hurricanes and joined No 242 Squadron.
He was sent to France on 14 May 1940, where he was attached to No 607 Squadron. Turner moved to No 615 Squadron on the 16th but when the squadron returned to England on the 19th, he rejoined 242.
On 25 May he destroyed two Bf 109s and probably another, on the 28th he destroyed a Bf 109, on the 29th he probably destroyed a Bf 109 and damaged another and on the 31st and 1 June he destroyed two more and probably a third.
On 8 June, No 242 Squadron went to France. Turner destroyed two Bf 109s on the 9th. The squadron returned to the UK on the 16th.
On 7 September, when 242 was part of the “Duxford Wing”, Turner damaged a Bf 109. On the 15th he was made ‘B’ Flight Commander, as an Acting Flight Lieutenant, and on that day he destroyed two Do 17s and probably a Bf 109. He was awarded the DFC on 8 October.
Stan Turner added to his score in 1941 and was awarded a bar to the DFC. He commanded No 145 Squadron before going on to staff duties. He then took command of the Canadian No 411 Squadron. He commanded No 249 Squadron in Malta. He was on HMS Coventry, acting as an observer, when it was attacked and set on fire by German bombers in the Mediterranean on 14 September 1942. The ship was scuttled.
Further commands of squadrons and wings followed. Turner was awarded the DSO in May 1944. He returned to Canada in 1946 and served in the Royal Canadian Air Force until 1965. He died in Ottawa on 23 July 1985.
