Lackland Air Force Base in Bexar County, Texas — The American South (West South Central)
Master Sgt. Samuel O. Turner
B-52 ...an enlisted story.
Photographed by James Hulse, August 16, 2024
1. Master Sgt. Samuel O. Turner Marker
Inscription.
Master Sgt. Samuel O. Turner. B-52 ...an enlisted story.. 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 talks in Paris. The North Vietnamese fired surface-to-air missiles by the dozens when word reached the crew that a MiG-29 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.
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 talks in Paris. The North Vietnamese fired surface-to-air missiles by the dozens when word reached the crew that a MiG-29 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.
Erected by USAF Heritage Program Collection.
Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Air & Space •
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War, Vietnam. A significant historical date for this entry is December 18, 1972.
Location. 29° 23.631′ N, 98° 37.192′ W. Marker is in Lackland Air Force Base, Texas, in Bexar County. It is on Bong Avenue south of Luke Blvd. The marker is located at the USAF Airman Heritage Museums Air Park which is around the parade grounds. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Jbsa Lackland TX 78236, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Regionally, this marker is in South Texas and in the San Antonio Metropolitan Area. It is also in the American South. Globally, it is in North America, a Gulf of Mexico state, the Western Hemisphere, the Western World, and the Anglosphere. Historically, it finds itself in what was once New Spain, the Republic of Texas, and one of the Confederate States of America.
More about this marker. The marker, museum and air park are located on the Lackland Air Force Base, an active U.S. military installation which is a part of the Joint Base San Antonio (JBSA). The USAF Airman Heritage Museum and Air Park are open to the public, but appropriate identification is required for access. Visit the museums web site for current details on visiting the museum and air park.
Also see . . . Airmen Heritage Training Complex. USAF Airman Heritage Museum (Submitted on August 24, 2024, by James Hulse of Medina, Texas.)
Credits. This page was last revised on August 25, 2024. It was originally submitted on August 24, 2024, by James Hulse of Medina, Texas. This page has been viewed 517 times since then and 71 times this year. Photos:1, 2. submitted on August 25, 2024, by James Hulse of Medina, Texas.
