Walter James TAYLOR

Service Number:	418490
Enlisted:	22 May 1942
Last Rank:	Flying Officer
Last Unit:	No. 156 Squadron (RAF)
Born:	Leongatha, Victoria, Australia, 11 February 1923
Home Town:	Leongatha, South Gippsland, Victoria
Schooling:	Not yet discovered
Occupation:	Clerk
Memorials:

World War 2 Service

22 May 1942:	Enlisted Royal Australian Air Force, Flying Officer, 418490, No. 156 Squadron (RAF)
4 Dec 1944:	Involvement Royal Australian Air Force, Flight Lieutenant, 418490, No. 460 Squadron (RAAF), Until volunteered for 156 Path Finder Force Squadron with first mission on 2nd March 1945
7 Dec 1945:	Discharged Royal Australian Air Force, Flying Officer, 418490, No. 156 Squadron (RAF)

Carl Aiken

Wal Taylor wrote a precise of his service for his family in 2005. This information is taken from that document.

Wal, a pilot, was first posted to 460 Squadron at Binbrook Lincolnshire flying Lancaster bombers. Along with his flight crew he subsequently volunteered for the Pathfinder squadron and was posted to 156 Path Finder Force Squadron at Upwood in Huntingdon.

Wal records 24 operational missions in his document, 10 with 460 Squadron and 14 with Pathfinders. His 20th operation over Kiel on the 9th April 1945. This operation resulted in the sinking of the pocket battleship Admiral Scheer.

Wal paid tribute to his crew - '...unreservedly pay tribute to their loyalty, ability and dedication and feel both proud and humble to have served as their skipper.'

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