(Greenfield) — The Iowa Aviation Museum has introduced their 2022 Corridor of Fame inductees, with one former Southwest Iowan making the checklist.
Former Elliott, Iowa resident Nick Turner has been chosen to the 2022 class. Nominations for the Iowa Aviation Museum Corridor of Fame are made by the general public after which choice is completed by an impartial judging committee. Turner enlisted in 2001 and served for over 20 years earlier than retiring with the rank of Lieutenant Colonel in 2021. Reflecting on his time piloting plane on the KMA “Morning Present,” Turner says that flying has all the time been a staple of his life.
“Grew up on the farm similar to most different Southwest Iowa youngsters, however with one little kick there my dad additionally was a helicopter pilot,” mentioned Turner. “So at any given time we may very well be fixing fence, castrating hogs, shearing sheep, and flying helicopters. That was sort of the norm. It did not look like something particular on the time, however as you become old and reminisce on a few of these recollections it is fairly cool.”
Turner enlisted within the Marines in June of 2001, and spent the following few years finishing his coaching within the TH-57B/C Sea Ranger and CH-53D Sea Stallion helicopters. He would go on to graduate on the prime of his class. After commencement, Turner says he obtained to share a memorable connection together with his father.
“I used to be capable of choose no matter plane I needed and wherever I needed to go fly, and I chosen Kāne‘ohe Bay, Hawaii,” mentioned Turner. “And I used to be finally chosen to go fly my dad’s previous squadron which was fairly cool– HMH-362 or Marine Heavy Helicopter Squadron 362 the Ugly Angels.”
Throughout his 20 years of service, Turner has been a part of missions throughout a number of international locations. He hung out as each the Flight Line Officer in Cost and as a Weapons Technical Teacher throughout Operation Iraqi Freedom. He additionally served in Operation Enduring Freedom in Afghanistan as Airborne Mission Commander.
Turner has even been a part of coordinating assist journeys for presidents. In 2006, he flew as a part of the crew escorting President George Bush to India. Then in September of 2009, Turner was chosen to affix the Presidential Marine Helicopter Squadron One. Over his tenure, he would facilitate flights at residence and overseas for President Obama. Turner says his time with HMX-1 was positively an unforgettable expertise.
“We obtained to do some actually cool things– fly in Germany, Eire, Brazil, all around the United States which was actually, actually enjoyable,” mentioned Turner.
After finishing his time with HMX-1, Turner would go on to carry varied coaching and command positions earlier than retiring from navy service. Turner now lives in Rhodes, Iowa together with his spouse and kids, and works as Topic Matter Knowledgeable and Occasion Controller for the Air Nationwide Guard in Des Moines.
The induction ceremony for the Iowa Aviation Museum Corridor of Fame is ready for August 27. Additionally chosen to the 2022 class is famous pilot and printed composer Connie Rex Youthful of Elmo, Missouri. Extra details about the Iowa Aviation Museum and the upcoming induction may be discovered by calling 641-343-7184. You possibly can hear the total interview with Nick Turner right here:
