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==Combat mission==
==Combat mission==
On August 8, 1964, Cengiz Topel was appointed to a [[military operation|combat mission]] during Turkey's military intervention during the Battle of Tylliria. He led a four-fighter [[flight (military unit)|flight]] of the 112nd Air Squadron leaving Eskişehir Air Base around 17:00 local time for [[Cyprus]]. Topel's [[F-100 Super Sabre]] was hit by 40mm anti-aircraft fire from a Greek Cypriot gun emplacement and shot-down as he was strafing Arion, a Greek Cypriot patrol boat. He was able to eject his aircraft and made a safe [[parachute jump]] over land. He was promptly captured and brought to a hospital. However, members of the [[Cyprus National Guard]] allegedly took him from the hospital to their headquarters at [[Kykkos Monastery]], where, according to Turkish sources, they tortured and lynched him.
On August 8, 1964, Cengiz Topel was appointed to a [[military operation|combat mission]] during Turkey's military intervention during the Battle of Tylliria. He led a four-fighter [[flight (military unit)|flight]] of the 112nd Air Squadron leaving Eskişehir Air Base around 17:00 local time for [[Cyprus]]. Topel's [[F-100 Super Sabre]] was hit by 40mm anti-aircraft fire from a Greek Cypriot gun emplacement and shot-down as he was strafing Arion, a Greek Cypriot patrol boat. He was able to eject his aircraft and made a safe [[parachute jump]] over land. He was promptly captured and brought to a hospital. However, members of the [[Cyprus National Guard]] allegedly took him from the hospital to their headquarters at [[Kykkos Monastery]], where, according to Turkish sources, they tortured and shot him on his back.


His corpse was returned on August 12, 1964 to the Turkish authorities only after insistent attempts.<ref name="woc">{{cite web |url=http://www.whatson-northcyprus.com/interest/lefke/topel.htm |publisher=What's on North Cyprus |title=Cengis Topel Memorial – Gemikonagi, Near Lefke, North Cyprus |accessdate=2009-08-22 }}</ref> On August 14, 1964, he was laid to rest at the [[Edirnekapı Martyr's Cemetery]] in Istanbul.<ref name="meb"/>
His corpse was returned on August 12, 1964 to the Turkish authorities only after insistent attempts.<ref name="woc">{{cite web |url=http://www.whatson-northcyprus.com/interest/lefke/topel.htm |publisher=What's on North Cyprus |title=Cengis Topel Memorial – Gemikonagi, Near Lefke, North Cyprus |accessdate=2009-08-22 }}</ref> On August 14, 1964, he was laid to rest at the [[Edirnekapı Martyr's Cemetery]] in Istanbul.<ref name="meb"/>

Revision as of 19:41, 28 May 2012

Statue of Cengiz Topel in Eskişehir

Cengiz Topel (1934, İzmit-1964 Cyprus) was a fighter pilot of the Turkish Air Force, who was shot down during the Battle of Tylliria.

Career

He was born on September 2, 1934 to Hakkı Bey, a tobacco expert from Trabzon and Mebuse Hanım in İzmit, where his father was working for the Turkish tobacco company Tekel. He was the third sibling of four children.

Cengiz Topel was schooled in Bandırma and Gönen of Balıkesir Province. He finished the primary and the secondary school in Kadıköy, İstanbul, where his family moved following his father's death. After a brief time at Haydarpaşa High School, he entered Kuleli Military High School, from which he graduated in 1953. Cengiz Topel joined the Army in 1955 in the rank of a Second Lieutenant following his education at the Turkish Military Academy.[1]

His interest in aviation took him to the Turkish Air Force. He was sent to Canada for flight training. In 1957, he returned to Turkey and was appointed to the 5th Air Wing in Merzifon Air Base. Cengiz Topel served from 1961 on at the 1st Tactical Air Force Command at Eskişehir Air Base. In 1963, he became Air Force Captain.[1]

Combat mission

On August 8, 1964, Cengiz Topel was appointed to a combat mission during Turkey's military intervention during the Battle of Tylliria. He led a four-fighter flight of the 112nd Air Squadron leaving Eskişehir Air Base around 17:00 local time for Cyprus. Topel's F-100 Super Sabre was hit by 40mm anti-aircraft fire from a Greek Cypriot gun emplacement and shot-down as he was strafing Arion, a Greek Cypriot patrol boat. He was able to eject his aircraft and made a safe parachute jump over land. He was promptly captured and brought to a hospital. However, members of the Cyprus National Guard allegedly took him from the hospital to their headquarters at Kykkos Monastery, where, according to Turkish sources, they tortured and shot him on his back.

His corpse was returned on August 12, 1964 to the Turkish authorities only after insistent attempts.[2] On August 14, 1964, he was laid to rest at the Edirnekapı Martyr's Cemetery in Istanbul.[1]

He is known as the first Turkish pilot killed in action.[1]

In remembrance

A former Turkish Air Force base located near İzmit, currently in use as Cengiz Topel Naval Air Station, is named after him. A monument was erected on the coastal road in the village Gemikonağı near Lefka in Northern Cyprus, where he had landed by parachute.[2] A bronze statue in Eskişehir depicts him in flight suit. A number of places,[3][4][5][6] schools[7][8][9][10] in Turkey and a hospital in Northern Cyprus[11] are named after him.

References

  1. ^ a b c d "Cengiz Topel (1934–1964)" (in Turkish). Milli Eğitim Bakanlığı Okulweb. Retrieved August 22, 2009.
  2. ^ a b "Cengis Topel Memorial – Gemikonagi, Near Lefke, North Cyprus". What's on North Cyprus. Retrieved August 22, 2009.
  3. ^ "Erzincan Cengiztopel Village". Baybul.com. Retrieved October 20, 2011.
  4. ^ İETT. "Cengiz Topel Street in six districts of İstanbul". Iett.gov.tr. Retrieved October 20, 2011.
  5. ^ "Malatya Cengiz Topel Street". Malatyaguncel.com. Retrieved October 20, 2011.
  6. ^ "Gaziantep Cengiztopel Neighborhood". Kenthaber.com. Retrieved October 20, 2011.
  7. ^ "Antalya Cengiz Topel Kindergartenhttp://www.dinarcengiztopelilkogretim.k12.tr/ Afyon Dinar Cengiz Topel Primary Schoolhttp://www.batmancengiztopel.k12.tr/ Batman Cengiz Topel Primary Schoolhttp://www.cpinarcengiztopel.k12.tr/ Ceylanpınar Cengiz Topel Primary Schoolhttp://pilotcengiztopel.k12.tr/ İstanbul Pilot Cengiz Topel Primary School[http://okulweb.meb.gov.tr/35/09/389246/ İzmir Deliktaş Şehit Cengiz Topel Primary School". Cengiztopelanaokulu.k12.tr. Retrieved October 20, 2011. {{cite web}}: External link in |title= (help)
  8. ^ http://www.bucacengiztopel.com/ Buca Kıbrıs Şehidi Yüzbaşı Cengiz Topel Primary School
  9. ^ http://www.cengiztopellisesi.k12.tr/ Tarsus Cengiz Topel High School
  10. ^ http://www.cengiztopellisesi.meb.k12.tr/ İzmir Güzelbahçe Cengiz Topel High School
  11. ^ Güzelyurt-Lefke Cengiz Topel Hospital

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