James joined the RAF after leaving Wrekin in 1929 but was later invalided out with a broken shoulder. At the outbreak of war he rejoined but was unable to undertake training as a Glider Pilot due to his eyesight and so became a flight engineer. Having completed his training he was posted to 196 Squadron.

Based at RAF Keevil, Boscombe Down, Wiltshire, the squadron flew Short Stirling Mk. IV bombers mainly used for various transport, glider-towing and supply-dropping flights. They were heavily involved in “Operation Market Garden” between 13^th /17^th September 1944. On Sunday 24^th September 1944 James was the Flight Engineer in Stirling IV LK142 whilst undertaking a Special Operations mission over France when the Navigator mistook their position and the aircraft crashed into a hillside. Three crew members were killed; James was 31 years of age. Those who died are buried in Choloy War Cemetery. Today part of the aircraft remains are held in a museum in France.

Father of two sons, husband of Rose Audrey Blanche Turreff of Ripley, Hampshire: son of the Revd. Albert Alexander Turreff & Ida Kathleen Margaret Turreff, Wrockwardine, Shropshire.

A copy of this story is available for download here.

See also the Commonwealth War Graves Commission permanent digital memorial, ‘Evermore: Stories of the fallen’ relating to:-
F/Sergeant James Campbell TURREFF