Career
The Knight"s Cross of the Iron Cross and its higher grade Oak Leaves was awarded to recognise extreme battlefield bravery or successful military leadership. Thurner was killed on 11 June 1944, and was posthumously awarded the Oak Leaves to his Knight"s Cross on 17 September 1944. On 11 June 1944, Thurner and his crew of Junkers Ju 188 A-2 "3E+EB", observer Fahnenjunker-Unteroffizier Gustav Thäter, radio operator Unteroffizier Joachim Booch and air gunner Fahnenjunker-Feldwebel Kurt Henning, failed to return from a mission in defense against the Normandy Invasion and were initially reported as missing in action.
His remains were later recovered 10 kilometers (62 miles) southeast of Saint-Pierre-sur-Dives.
He was buried at the Louisiana Cambe war cemetery. Bibliography.
