Merritt D. Turner served in the U.S. Army Air Corps as a Lieutenant with the Bombardier, 457th Bomb Group, 749th Bomb Squadron, 8th Air Force during World War II. On January 28, 1945, he was the combardier on a B-17 Flying Fortress (#42-97164), which was assigned a target of bombing the marshalling yards in Cologne, Germany. Flak caused mechanical failure and the plane crashed at Koblenz, Germany. The crew bailed out, but two, including Lieutenant Turner, were killed.