David M. Taylor
Left Formation January 9, 2007
COLONEL DAVID M TAYLOR (RET), age 85, died January 9th, after a long battle with heart disease. Col. Taylor was born and raised in Grenada, MS.
In 1942, he joined the Army Air Corps Cadets. He became a command pilot retiring from the Air Force after 32 years.
He was a member of MOAA, Berlin Airlift Association, 95th Bomb Group Association and 389 Elk's Club of Charlottesville.
After completing pilot training he was assigned to the European theater. He was based in England where he flew 27 combat missions in the B-17 as a lead pilot and earned the Distinguished Flying Cross and the Air Medal.
After WWII he flew a plane carrying aid during the Berlin Airlift. While in Korea he participated in an aborted mission to rescue five downed pilots behind enemy lines. In 1997, the tapes of this mission were declassied and released to the AP News Service. The mission failed because it was a trap: on approach, the poles that were supposed to be part of the rescue equipment turned out to be two 50 caliber machine guns that opened fire on the plane. Some of Col. Taylor's other exploits were detailed in a chapter of the book, "I Always Wanted to Fly," by Wolfgang Samuels. He was again called upon to perform in a combat role in Korea were he flew 83 combat missions in C-46, B-26, and C-47 aircraft. During this period he was awarded the Second Oak Leaf Cluster to the Distinguished Flying Cross, the Bronze Star, the Silver Star, and the Eighth Oak Leaf Cluster to the Air Medal. His combat role continued in Vietnam where he flew 32 combat missions in TF-102A and C-130 aircraft.
His outstanding performance of duty as Chief of Maintenance at Dover Air Force Base, Delaware earned him the Air Force Commendation Medal. As Deputy Commander of Materiel at Naha Air Base, Okinawa, and Langley Air Force Base, Virginia, he received the first Oak Leaf Cluster to the Air Force Commendation Medal, the first Oak Leaf Cluster to the Bronze Star, and the Legion of Merit. He refused to apply for the Purple Heart because his mother would have been the first one to be notified.
After WWII, he married Helen Hunt of Mississippi. The couple lived all over the world while he performed his military service.
He was an avid horseman and Quarter Horse breeder and hunted with the James River Hunt Club for many years. He founded the Naha Riding Academy in Okinawa to provide children and off duty personnel with the opportunity to have lessons and ride horses through the Okinawa countryside.
In 1996, he married Nona Pauline Jones, the widow of Eugene Jones, the ball turret gunner of the B-17 that he flew during WWII as a member of the 95th Bomb Group.
He was predeceased by his parents, David Taylor and Edna Able Taylor; and his rst wife, Helen Taylor.
He is survived by his wife, Nona Taylor; and two daughters: Mary Munster and husband Walter of The Plains, and Jenny Taylor of Charlottesville; four stepchildren: Dr. Martin W. Jones and wife Sally of D.C., Glenna Carlton and husband Allan of Fort Worth, TX, Paul E. Jones and partner Robert Sales of Charlottesville, and Dr. Mary Francis Jones and partner Suzzane Mason of Santa Fe, NM.
He was a member of the Rugby Ave. Church of Christ.
The Memorial Service will be held at 1525 Rugby Ave. (Church of Christ) at 11 on Saturday, January 20, 2007, with Larry Macomber ofciating. Burial will be at Arlington National Cemetery on January 24, 2007 at 11 a.m.
The family would like to thank the Hospice of the Piedmont, the staff at Martha Jefferson Hospital sixth floor, and Dr. Sawyer for their care. The family would also like to thank the members of the Rugby Ave. Church of Christ, First Baptist Church on Park Street, and the Santa Fe Church of Christ for the cards, food, calls, and especially for their prayers.
Santa Fe New Mexican, The (NM) - Wednesday, February 28, 2007