Memorial

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1st Lt Robert L. Taylor attended high school for four years and was employed at Weriton Steel Corporation.
He enlisted on 3 November 1942 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. His servicenumber at that point, 13133992.

Eyewitness statement of 2nd Lt Jack W. Schindler:
Flying as bombardier in Lt Mc Kinney's plane I was called to watch Lt Taylor's ship in our formation. From my position in the nose I could see that Lt Taylor's right engine was afire. I followed it down until I lost it at 3.000 feet. During that time the plane appeared to be under control. When I last saw the plane it was on a heading of 160*.

Eyewitness statement of S/Sgt Boyd A. Cavanaugh:
Flying as tail-gunner on Lt Crumb's plane I noticed Lt Taylor's ship leaving formation just after it was hit by flak. No smoke or fire was noticeable coming from either engine. The plane was in a dive and continued that way until it reached an altitude of about 7.000 feet. I noticed the plane pull out and continue on a straight flight. I didn't see the plane after that.

Eyewitness statement of S/Sgt Vernon R. Sippel:
Flying as tail-gunner on Lt Shaney's plane I saw Lt Taylor's ship hit by a burst of flak. Right engine caught fire, flames were noticeable. Chandelling under us I lost track of Lt Taylor's ship for a moment or two, but picked it up still aflame but flying apparently under control.

The plane was last seen in the air between Sinzig and Koblenz, Germany.

First Lieutenant Robert L. Taylor stayed to control and level out the plane so that the crew could bail out (the controls were nearly destroyed). There was a problem with the bomb bay doors and/or the nose wheel escape hatch: they would not open. 1st Lt Taylor ordered his crew to leave the plane by the rear windows. After the crew had left the plane the right engine finally exploded and the ship went into a spin, and spun right into the ground. After the plane had crashed into the ground, Germans had laid his body away from the plane and covered it with a blanket. All of the other crewmembers survived and became Prisoners of War.

1st Lt Robert L. Taylor first buried at Temporary American Military Cemetery Margraten, Netherlands Block WW, Row 12, Grave 299.