Cengiz Topel
Cengiz Topel | |
---|---|
Statue of Topel in Eskişehir, Turkey | |
Born | (1934-09-02)September 2, 1934 İzmit, Turkey |
Died | August 8, 1964(1964-08-08) (aged 29) Paphos District, Cyprus |
Allegiance | Turkey |
Service/ | Turkish Air Force |
Years of service | 1955–1964 |
Rank | Captain |
Unit | 112th Air Squadron |
Battles/wars | Battle of Tylliria ![]() |
Cengiz Topel (September 2, 1934 – August 8, 1964) was a fighter pilot of the Turkish Air Force.
Career
Topel was born in İzmit 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, Istanbul, 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 with 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 an Air Force captain.[1]
Combat mission
On Aug. 5, 1964, the Cypriot National Guard began an operation in the area. On August 7, the Turkish Air Force dispatched aircraft to the area.[2] Captian Topel was sent from Eskisehir in central Turkey to Cyprus on Aug. 8, 1964, as a commander of the units. They were ordered to conduct low-altitude warning flights over the island as a deterrence against the Greek Cypriot forces' attacks against the Turkish militants.
The flight team included Captain Cengiz Topel, Lieutenant Izzet Oztarhan, Captain Mehmet Konedrali and Lieutenant Ethem Sancar. Topel's F100F jet was shot down while preparing for its second dive.[citation needed]
A parachute-clad Topel ejected from his aircraft, landing on a road near the Greek village of Peristeronori between the Turkish settlements of Lefka, Kazivera, Elia and Kalo Chorio where he was captured by Greek soldiers. Topel reportedly kept the soldiers at bay until he ran out of ammunition.[citation needed]
Though it is not certain what happened to Topel while in Greek Cypriot prison, he did not emerge from the ordeal alive. He was allegedly killed by torture despite the 1929 Geneva Convention on the Treatment of Prisoners of War.[citation needed] The Greek Cypriot side claimed that Topel had been wounded and died after being treated in hospital. Following intense diplomatic efforts, Turkey received Topel's body from Cyprus on Aug. 12, 1964.
His remains were returned on August 12, 1964, to the Turkish authorities.[3] On August 14, 1964, he was buried at the Edirnekapı Martyr's Cemetery in Istanbul and was first Turkish pilot to be killed in action.[1]
Legacy
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 Lefke in Northern Cyprus, where he had landed by parachute.[3] A bronze statue in Eskişehir depicts him in flight suit. A number of places,[4][5][6][7] schools[8][9][10] in Turkey and a hospital in Northern Cyprus[11] are named after him.
References
- ^ a b c "Cengiz Topel (1934–1964)" (in Turkish). Milli Eğitim Bakanlığı Okulweb. Archived from the original on January 1, 2019. Retrieved August 22, 2009.
- ^ "Tillyria commemorates 60th anniversary since bombings". cyprus-mail.com. August 8, 2024. Retrieved August 26, 2024.
- ^ a b "Cengis Topel Memorial – Gemikonagi, Near Lefke, North Cyprus". What's on North Cyprus. Retrieved August 22, 2009.
- ^ "Erzincan Cengiztopel Village". Baybul.com. Retrieved October 20, 2011.
- ^ İETT. "Cengiz Topel Street in six districts of İstanbul". Iett.gov.tr. Archived from the original on September 27, 2011. Retrieved October 20, 2011.
- ^ "Malatya Cengiz Topel Street". Malatyaguncel.com. July 27, 2009. Retrieved October 20, 2011.
- ^ "Gaziantep Cengiztopel Neighborhood". Kenthaber.com. Archived from the original on September 28, 2011. Retrieved October 20, 2011.
- ^ "Antalya Cengiz Topel Kindergarten". Cengiztopelanaokulu.k12.tr. Archived from the original on October 25, 2011. Retrieved October 20, 2011.
- ^ "Archived copy". Archived from the original on May 1, 2009. Retrieved August 23, 2009.
{{cite web}}
: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link) Tarsus Cengiz Topel High School - ^ http://www.cengiztopellisesi.meb.k12.tr/ İzmir Güzelbahçe Cengiz Topel High School
- ^ "KKTC Sağlık Bakanlığı > Anasayfa". www.saglikbakanligi.com. Archived from the original on May 16, 2008. Retrieved August 23, 2009.