Turner was an aviation enthusiast and learned how to fly in his free time while he was the commanding officer of the Marine Barracks at San Diego.

While assigned to the Signal Corps, he held command of Ellington Field, an Army Air Station in Houston, Texas.

In October 1919, Turner was given orders to take part in combat operations against bandits with the First Provisional Marine Regiment in Haiti.

Turner's friend, Commandant John A. Lejeune, appointed him as the Officer in Charge, Aviation for the Marine Corps in December 1920.

[2] On October 22, 1931, Colonel Turner flew a new amphibious boat plane, the Sikorsky RS-1, to the Marine headquarters in Haiti.

The port landing gear sank into the sand about two feet, and Turner exited the plane to inspect the damage.

[2] Turner's body was returned to the United States and he was laid to rest in Arlington National Cemetery on November 5, 1931.