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Submit- Full
name
TAYLOR, Herman Eldon - Date of
birth
17 August 1921 -
Age
23 - Place of
birth
Malone, Franklin County, New York -
Hometown
Franklin County, New York
Personal info
Military service
- Service
number
32578801 -
Rank
Sergeant -
Function
Engineer -
Unit
751st Bombardment Squadron,
457th Bombardment Group, Heavy
-
Awards
Purple Heart
Death
-
Status
Killed in Action - Date of
death
10 September 1944 - Place of
death
Near Gaggenau, Germany
Grave
-
Cemetery
American War Cemetery Henri-Chapelle
| Plot | Row | Grave |
|---|---|---|
| G | 14 | 25 |
Plane data
- Serial
number
42-97456 -
Data
Type: B-17G
Nickname: Mighty Little John
Destination: Gaggenau, Germany
Mission: Bombing of the Daimler-Benz motor vehicle factory
MACR: 15928
More information
Sgt Herman E. Taylor worked in a facotry that produced leather products.He enlisted in Utica, New York on 26 October 1942.
After the bomb run, B-17 42-97451, piloted by Harry Gay, was blinded by the sun and pulled up, hitting B-17 42-97456. The plane of Harry Gay was damaged but managed to return to base.
Eight crew members were killed. Only the navigator, 2nd Lt Jerome W. Page and the tail gunner, Sgt Jacob Z. Chimerinsky managed to bail out and were taken prisoner.
The plane broke in two either just behind the radio compartment, by the rear door or behind the tail weel. The front part went down like a falling leaf and exploded on the ground.
Source of information: Raf Dyckmans,Carla Mans, www.ancestry.com - U.S. WWII Draft Cards Young Men, Homepage - The 457th Bomb Group (H) Association (457thbombgroupassoc.org), www.fold3.com - MACR
Photo source: Peter Schouteten