2 Squadron AFC Lt Harry taylor

can anyone help - I received a e.mail ages ago from Andrew Smith and he told me that my great Uncle Lt Harry Taylor's plane number was A9378 I would be grateful if Andrew could tell me how he got this info. I have got some really excellent info recently on Taylor but if anyone else knows any stories about him I would be really grateful for them
Thanks Julie

[Vin]

Harry Taylor is mentioned shooting down a D.F.W. 2-seater after 23 November 1917 in Volume 8 of Cutlack’s “Official History of Australia in the War of 1914 - 1918” Harry Taylor is not specifically mentioned but there is good background material on No 2 squadron in High Adventure” by A H Cobby. Have a look at

http://members.xoom.com/_XOOM/PointCook/afcaces.htm and

Try looking at the AWM site

Otherwise, Andrew and Cam are your best bets.

Did your great unkle write memoirs ?


Vin

Hi Julie,
A really good book on 2 Sqn which includes some references to your Great Uncle is 'Highest Traditions - The History of 2 Sqn RAAF' by John Bennett. The book is published by the Australian Government Publishing Service.
It includes a substantial section on 2 Sqn AFC. It appears your Great Uncle won the Military Cross for his contribution to the great job 2 Sqn did in ground attack duties during the battles around Cambrai in November 1917.

Interestingly the photo taken around the same time of the same aircraft with Capt Stan Muir in the cockpit shows the DH5 with a dark boss on the propeller. The Taylor photo has a white boss. I'd say someone put it on it's nose and snapped a prop in between the two pictures being taken.

A9197 is a presentation aircraft, 2 AFC had several at the time, apparently one of the old Cross and Cockades has an article on the presentation aircraft, there may be more info in that. The presentation aircraft were given to the air service from money donated by civilian groups.

The "Upper Hunter" refers to a region in New South Wales near Newcastle. The Hunter is known for its farming and amongst other things the Hunter Valley Vineyards and Wineries. If your drinking Australian wine overseas, there is a 50% chance it is from the Hunter Valley. I lived in Kahibah for a couple of years too. Pretty decent place to live.


Gordon, if your digging around the squadron diary for 2 Sqn in late 1917, could you have a look at what serial DH5 Lt McDonald was flying when he crashed on 6 Dec 1917. It looks like A954? with the last number hidden.


cam

G'day Julie,

A9378 was the plane that your Great Uncle was flying when he was shot down during the battle of Cambrai on November 20 1917, you would be familiar with that date, if anyone would like to read about Lt Taylor's input into the Battle of Cambrai you can read it on Cam's site at:

http://members.xoom.com/_XOOM/PointCook/afc_ar10.htm

Back to the question, I obtained your Great Uncles plane's serial number from the book The Sky Their Battlefield by Trevor Henshaw, it is basically a book on all allied air casualties from 1914-1918, so it mentions your Great Uncles plane coming down on November 20. It really is a great source of information to me until I can get to the Public Records Office in England (sometime 2004 unless I can find a wealthy benefactor.)

Cutlack's Official History also has a write up on Lt Taylor, regarding the Cambrai escape/evasion from capture.

Russell Guest sometimes graces these pages so with any luck he might be able to help you, I will contact the RAAF Museum at Point Cook for you and see what information the have.

Regards,
Andrew Smith.

[Russell]

Yes I have just read the screed. Send me an E mail and I will add what I have. It may take a while, as most of my records are 300km from where I live. But I do have a fair bit on DH 5,s with 2 AFC, from all kinds of sources going back 20 years.