TAYLOR, Ralph Nigel Keith
| Service Number: | O120600 |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | Not yet discovered |
| Last Rank: | Flight Lieutenant |
| Last Unit: | No. 9 Squadron (RAAF) |
| Born: | Not yet discovered |
| Home Town: | Launceston, Launceston, Tasmania |
| Schooling: | Not yet discovered |
| Occupation: | Not yet discovered |
| Died: | Flying Accident, Irian Jaya, Indonesia, Korea, 30 October 1950, age not yet discovered |
| Cemetery: |
United Nations Memorial Cemetery, Busan, Korea |
| Memorials: | Australian War Memorial Roll of Honour |
Middle East Area of Operations Service
| 11 Sep 2001: | Involvement Flight Lieutenant, O120600, No. 9 Squadron (RAAF) |
|---|
Help us honour Ralph Nigel Keith Taylor's service by contributing information, stories, and images so that they can be preserved for future generations.
Add my storyBiography contributed by David Barlow
Iroquois helicopter A2-379 (formerly US Army 67-17181) operated by 9 Squadron RAAF Detachment "A" was lost during poor weather conditions in the Baliem Valley, Irian Jaya, West Papua, Indonesia - the pilot (Flight Lieutenant Taylor O120600) was the only fatality
It was being used to convey an Australian Army team engaged in geodetic survey work to an airstrip across the mountains. Heavy cloud caused the mission to be aborted and while returning to base the aircraft crashed into high ground.
Special Air Service personnel were winched 60 metres through the jungle canopy to evacuate the seriously injured survivors and to protect the wreck while recovery operations were carried out.
Click images to start slideshow.