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Personal info

Full name
TAYLOR, William C
Date of birth
1922
Age
unknown
Place of birth
Mississippi
Hometown
Jones County, Mississippi

Military service

Service number
34426265
Rank
Sergeant
Function
Waist Gunner
Unit
32nd Bombardment Squadron,
301st Bombardment Group, Heavy
Awards
Purple Heart,
Air Medal

Death

Status
Killed in Action
Date of death
2 April 1944
Place of death
Kleinreifling, Austria

Grave

Cemetery
American War Cemetery Lorraine
Plot Row Grave
B 18 5

Immediate family

Members
Clarence F. Taylor (father)
Beulah B. Taylor (mother)

Plane data

Serial number
42-3144
Data
Type: B-17F
Destination: Steyr, Austria
Mission: Bombing of the ball bearing plant
MACR: 4197

More information

Sgt William C. Taylor attended high school for 3 years before he enlisted in Camp Shelby, Mississippi on 21 September 1942.

S/Sgt John E. P. Mullally:
"Airplane #144’s #1 engine was smoking and dropped back out of formation. Ten enemy fighters attacked from 5,6 and 7 o’clock. The plane started down after the third fighter had completed his attack. Apparently the men at the controls tried to straighten the plane out of its dive. When the ship snapped back to an almost level position it broke in two. Several men fell out, but no chutes were observed opening, and it is doubtful if any of the crew survived."

Source of information: Peter Schouteten, www.abmc.gov, www.wwiimemorial.com, www.archives.gov – WWII Enlistment Record, www.ancestry.com - Headstone and Interment Record, www.fold3.com, http://aircrewremembered.com/USAAFCombatOperations/Apr.44.html
Photo source: -