Lt Richard W. Taylor was lost in action in February of 1945,
the report was sent to me from Holland were he fell. Lt Richard W. Taylor was lost in action in February of 1945,
the report was sent to me from Holland were he fell.
Richard Taylor.
363rd Fighter Sqn.
23rd Feb, 1945
P51-D, 41-14768.
Report by 1st Lt Paul Bowles.
On the 23rd Feb 1945, on a combat mission, ( F.O. 1654A ) I was leading
Cement Green Flight.Lt Taylor was flying my wing as Cement Green 2, While climbing out on
course we were forced to climb through 10/10 overcast, extending from 4,000 to 14,000
feet.After coming out of this cloud layer, Green flight was slightly lower and ahead of
Cement leader. I started a climbing turn to the right in order to get back in position,
arriving at 18,000 we began forming up with the rest of the Squadron. Lt Taylor was in
good formation position at the beginning of the turn, but I lost sight of him when he
crossed over to get on my left wing. A few seconds later I noticed he was lagging quite a
bit behind and then when I had the flight in the proper position I looked again,I checked
all around behind me but could not locate him at all. Lt Joe Cannon, another member of the
flight called me on the RT and asked if Lt Taylor had returned to base.At this time I did
not know that my Radio Transmitter was Inoparative, my reciever was loud and clear, so I
called for Taylor several times on "A" channel and then switched to
"D" and tried again. I finally tried to get a fix on the "B" channel
but of course this was to no avail as my transmitter was out. All of this occurred at
approx 1015 hours about 15 miles West of Noordwigerhout, Holland, and over the North Sea.
This was the last I saw or heard of Lt Taylor.
I have of course given considerable thought to what might have happened to Lt Taylor, the
most logical conclusion I have been able to arrive at is that he may have been suffering
from Anoxia and passed out up there at 18,000 feet. disappearing into the layer of clouds
at 14,000 feet before anyone noticed he was missing.
Lt Taylor crashed at a village called Castricum in Holland,
the
above photos and report were sent to me by Paul Patist.