Wallace Cadet Taylor
MilitaryAdded Details. - Kickapoo
Lt. Wallace C. Taylor was a B-24 command pilot assigned to the 344th Bomb Squadron, the 98th Bomb Group, and the 9th Air Force in the USAAF in WWII. He flew the B-24D bomber named, The Vulgar Virgin, 41-24198, on the famous bombing mission to destroy the German oil refineries at Ploesti, Romania in 1943. On his bomb run, after taking two direct flak hits over his target, White IV, Capt. Taylor called on the aircraft intercom for a crew bailout from his airplane. He was the only one of four who bailed out, survived, and became a prisoner of war in Romania. The rest of the crew were killed in action (KIA). Aircraft, 41-24198, failed to return (FTR) from Ploesti. 9 KIA. Capt. Taylor became a Prisoner of War. 1 POW. 1 Aug 1943. MACR 166
Awards: DFC (OLC), AM (3OLC), POW, WWII Victory, EAME.
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Units served with
People
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 98th Bomb Group 344th Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: 11040984
- Highest Rank: Staff Sergeant
- Role/Job: Waist Gunner
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 98th Bomb Group 344th Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: 31003323
- Highest Rank: Technical Sergeant
- Role/Job: Radio Operator
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 98th Bomb Group 344th Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: 12037352
- Highest Rank: Staff Sergeant
- Role/Job: Waist Gunner
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 98th Bomb Group 344th Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: 18021181 / O-664934
- Highest Rank: First Lieutenant
- Role/Job: Navigator
Aircraft
Missions
Places
Events
Event | Location | Date | Description |
---|---|---|---|
Born |
Manila, Philipines | 23 August 1916 | Son of Jeanette Lewis Taylor. |
Enlisted |
March Field, Riverside, CA | 6 January 1942 | March Field, Riverside, California |
Other Bailed out (POW) |
1 August 1943 | Failed to Return (FTR) Ploesti in B-24 41-24198; POW MACR 166 | |
Other Prisoner of War (POW) |
Bucharest, Romania | 1 August 1943 | Prisoner of War (POW). Held in Romania. |
Other Discharged USAAF |
18 February 1946 | Honourable discharge. | |
Died |
5 March 1978 | ||
Buried |
Bellevue Memorial Park Ontario, San Bernardino County, CA | 8 March 1978 | Bellevue Memorial Park Ontario, San Bernardino County, California |
Ontario, CA | |||
Based |
Benina | 1 August 1943 | Assigned to 344BS, 98BG, 9AF USAAF. |