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name
TAYLOR, Royce D - Date of
birth
6 June 1921 -
Age
22 - Place of
birth
San Francisco County, California -
Hometown
Chicago, Cook County, Illinois
Personal info
Military service
- Service
number
O-685882 -
Rank
Second Lieutenant -
Function
Bombardier -
Unit
527th Bombardment Squadron,
379th Bombardment Group, Heavy
-
Awards
Purple Heart
Death
-
Status
Killed in Action - Date of
death
20 December 1943 - Place of
death
Westerbeck, near Osterholz-Scharmbeck, Germany
Grave
-
Cemetery
American War Cemetery Margraten
| Plot | Row | Grave |
|---|---|---|
| D | 21 | 6 |
Immediate family
-
Members
Albert C. Taylor (brother)
Loriane A. Taylor (sister)
Leland H. Taylor (brother)
Lilian D. (Gnadt) Taylor (wife)
Plane data
- Serial
number
42-37851 -
Data
Type: B-17G
Destination: Bremerhaven, Germany
Mission: Bombing of the port
MACR: 1719
More information
2nd Lt Royce D. Taylor attended high school for 4 years and was a clerk. He volunteered for the Air Corps of the Army of the United States in Chicago, Illinois on 2 April 1942.The airplane was shot down by Hauptman Alfred Grislawski flying a FW-190 (J.G. 1) at 1146 hours at 27000 feet shortly after dropping their bombs on the target. With one engine on fire, the crippled B-17G began to lose altitude. The German fighters continued their attack and shot out the second engine on the left wing.
The left waist gunner, Benjamin Poweske, passed out due to lack of oxygen and was pushed out of the aircraft by the right waist gunner, Ralph Mantor, moments before the left wing separated from the aircraft causing a spin. Shortly afterward, the Radio Operator, Joseph Hennessey and Ralph were ejected when the aircraft exploded.
The remaining seven crew members were killed.
2nd Lt Taylor was missing in action untill March 1944 when his body was recovered by the German authorities and initially interred in the Garrison Cemetery of Wesermünde.
Source of information: Raf Dyckmans, Original letters from U.S. government, personal correspondence with surviving crewmembers and personal knowledge of Mr. Scott Taylor (grandson)
Photo source: Michel Beckers, Scott Taylor (grandson)