Donald E Taylor
MilitaryBack row: Thomas Baum, Harley Mason, Harold Roodman, Robert McNair, Lester Ward, Rudolph Anchondo
Front row: Doyle Kirkland, Victor Scollin, Walter Taylor, Edward Lesnak
Removed punctuation marks from aircraft name for clarity, uniformity, and readability. - Kickapoo
Technical Sargent Donald E Taylor was a ball turret gunner on the B-24D, SN #42-40738, named, 'The Oklahoman' from the 8th Air Force, and the 389th Bomb Group.
TSgt Donald Taylor was killed on a bombing mission to Cognac, France, after taking a direct flak hit that exploded and destroyed his airplane, the B-24D, 'The Oklahoman". TSgt Taylor and his entire crew were KIA, with the exception of his pilot, Lt. Harley Mason, who bailed out and survived as a POW.
After returning to Britain from Benghazi, Libya in North Africa, the 389th Bomb Group set out on a bombing mission to Cognac, France. Flying 'The Oklahoman' on that day, was Pilot, Lt. Harley Mason, his Copilot, Thomas Baum, and their crew, who normally flew in the B-24, 'Fightin' Sam' - #42-40506. Poor weather forced the group to return home instead. Over Nantes, the aircraft was hit a direct burst of flak and exploded. One B-24 released bombs on the flak position. Lt. Eldon N. Colby, Co-Pilot, was flying next to 'The Oklahoman' on his first mission as a command pilot, in the 'Touch Of Texas' - #42-40751. Pieces of 'The Oklahoman', hit his and several other aircraft. 'The Oklahoman' crashed at Painbosuf, France. The pilot, Lt. Harley Mason, was the sole survivor of the lost B-24, 'THE OKLAHOMAN', from the 566th Bomb Squadron. Mason survived and became a POW. Dec 5, 1943. - 9 KIA / 1 POW. - MACR 2351
Connections
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Units served with
- Unit Hierarchy: Group
- Air Force: Eighth Air Force
- Type Category: Bombardment
People
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 389th Bomb Group 566th Bomb Squadron
- Highest Rank: First Lieutenant
- Role/Job: Pilot
Aircraft
Events
Event | Location | Date | Description |
---|---|---|---|
Born |
Los Angeles, California |
Revisions
389th BG Roster / Drawn from the records of the National Museum of the Mighty Eighth Air Force, Savannah, Georgia