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Taylor William Erwin Gibson

Name:
William Erwin Gibson  Taylor
Rank:
Squadron Leader
Serial Number:
Unit:
71st Eagle Squadron
Date of Death:
1991-06-09
State:
Cemetery:
Plot:
Row:
Grave:
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William Erwin Gibson "Bill" Taylor was born on July 4, 1905 in Fort Leavenworth, Kansas. He enrolled at the Guggenheim College of Aeronautical Engineering at New York University, but left to join the Naval Reserves in 1925. He received his Naval pilot's license in 1927 and was assigned to Fighting Squadron Five, Scouting Fleet. He resigned in 1928 when his squadron was ordered to inactive status and he then joined the US Marine Corps Reserve, where he was an aviator from 1928-1933. In 1933, he was again ordered to inactive status. At this point Taylor left the Armed Services and became a pilot for United Airlines and later owned a New York City based travel agency.

In 1939, he joined the Royal Navy Volunteer Reserve and took a refresher course in flight training at HMS Daedalus, a Royal Navy air station. His last appointment was with the 71st Eagle Squadron, Royal Air Force as Commanding Officer.

In June 1941, Taylor left the Eagle Squadron and rejoined the United States Naval Reserve, 1941-1951 where he served on the following vessels: Lexington, Yorktown, Wasp, Enterprise, Saratoga, and Ranger. After the war, Taylor was, among other posts, the commanding officer of Project Afirm and the commanding officer for the Night Attack and Training Unit, Atlantic (NACTU). In 1951 Taylor resigned from the Navy Reserves and worked first for Braniff Airlines in Panama, and then as a Vice President for Scandinavian Airlines System.

William died on June 9, 1991 in Pinellas County, Florida.

Source of information: https://www.unithistories.com