Memorial

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1st Lt Harold A. Taylor graduated from the University of Montana. He was a carpenter.

He volunteered for the Air Corps of the Army of the United States as an aviation cadet in San Antonio, Texas on 24 December 1941.

Statement of 1st Lt William J. McCormick, pilot of B-17 No. 455:
"B-17 no. 697 was flying No. 3 position and he pulled down and to the left. I started to follow but he waved me on. As far as I know all of his engines were running. I lost sight of him after he pulled under me. I did not have time to ascertain any flak holes and the plane appeared to be under control. This was right after we came off the target."

Statement of Robert P. Canavan:
"Three crews reported having heard following message over V.H.F.: "Able 2-1 - Starfish". Able 2-1 was aircraft No. 697 and Starfish was a code word for "heading for Russian lines". This was heard while still in the terget area."

Statement of T/Sgt Richard Benjamin, top turret gunner: "On 22 March 1945 our B-17 encountered flak over the target which disabled our A/C. We headed toward the Russian lines and were eventually escorted by three Russian A/C (P9's). Our bomb bay doors were open and we used our red flares. The Russian fighters were positioned, one on each wingtip and one on our tail. They next peeled off into the sun and attacked us, utilizing the 7 mm cannons and machine guns. Our gunners returned fire, the upper turret was hit, in which I was in and our bomb bay was filled with smoke. The cockpit was strafed and my feeling is that the four officers were killed at this time. An attempt was made to return to the cockpit area, however, it was impossible with the flames and smoke. The plane descended as if on automatic pilot. We, the six enlisted men, bailed out, were strafed in our chutes. Some holes punctured our chutes but none of us were hit. To the best of my knowledge this was near Salzbrun, Germany. We watched our plane descend. It went over a hill and that was the last view of it. All the enlisted men were POW's and eventually returned to the USA. I never heard any information regarding the officers again."

The mission took place on 22 March 1945. Six crew members survived. Four were killed and are missing still. Robert W. Steele, Harold A. Taylor and John P. Yatsco are remembered at the Tablets of the Missing at Henri-Chapelle. John W. Pierik is remembered at the Tablets of the Missing at the Sicily-Rome American Cemetery in Italy. They are all officially declared death one year and one day after they went missing.