US Marine Corps - The Black Vault

Service in the Naval Aeronautical Organization 107
tough, but fair, although intolerant of indiciency to the point where some
thought he was a sundowner.a’
The Executive Officer of the ]aon who served longest with him (10
months ) reports:
Before I reported for duty on the ]usot~, the advice to me was to watch
out for Commander Turner. He was a Son-of-a-bitch.
Kelly Turner turned out to be a close approximation to what I consider
an officer and gentleman should be. One who could lead in any direction.
He had no weak points, but instead a variety of strong ones which would
only come in focus as occasion required. . . .
To the enlisted personnel, he had for them the aura of the master about
him. . . . For the officers, he was the gentleman’s gentleman. . . . Hence,
he never once lost the respect of any of the personnel he came in contact
with, officers or men.85
Admiral Mark Bristol took a kindly view of Commander Turner in the
regular fitness reports. He recognized his weaknesses, marking him average
in patience and self-control, but superior in most other qualities, and in
the various reports penned these descriptive phrases:
Active mind and desire to be doing something is very gratifying.
A very good mind which he keeps working with a very desirable imagination.
He never hesitates to undertake anything.
BUREAU OF AERONAUTICS
Commander Turner’s cruise on the Asiatic Station was 12 months
shorter than the normal two and a half years. The shortening of this pleasurable
and stimulating command duty arose because of the familiar Navy
“Daisy Chain.”
In early 1928, Captain Ernest J. King was Assistant Chief of the Bureau
of Aeronautics. “When fur flew” between King and the Chief of Bureau,
Rear Admiral Moffett, King promptly was ordered to command the Naval
Air Station, Naval Operating Base, Hampton Roads, Virginia.’G To replace
King, Admiral Moffett decided to fleet up his Planning Officer, Commander
J. H. Towers. To keep the daisy chain moving, and to fill the important
billet of Plans Officer in the Bureau, the decision was made to take advan-
MCommodore Russell H. Ihrig, USN (Ret. ) to GCD, questionnaire answers, Feb. 1962.
w Wynne.
m King’~ Record, p. 211.