2nd Lt Elmer Walker Taylor
March 27, 1918 – June 2, 1944
Class: 43-G-SE
Graduation Date: July 28, 1943
Unit: 332nd Fighter Group, 302nd Fighter Control Squadron
Service # O-809255
Elmer was born in 1918 to Arthur Taylor and Maria Parr He grew up in the Homewood area of Pittsburgh and graduated from Schenley High School. He was a junior at Virginia State College in Petersburg, VA, when he enlisted. He was a member of Omega Psi Phi fraternity. He enrolled in the Tuskegee Air Institute Program and received his lieutenant commission in 1943. He was assigned to the 302nd Fighter Squadron, 332nd Fighter group based in Ramitelli, Italy.
He was overseas five months, and completed 25 missions. On Jun 2, 1944, he was flying a training mission under the direction of Col. B.O. Davis’ 322nd Squadron, when he was killed in a plane crash accident. He was buried in a temporary American Cemetery until his body was returned to the United States for burial, at the request of his parents.
In April of 1949. A Funeral was held at Payne’s funeral home and he was buried in Homewood Cemetery in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.
Members of the 1942 graduating class at Tuskegee Army Flying School: Alwayne Dunlap, Lawrence E Dickson, Wilmeth W Sidat Singh and Elmer L Gordon
Sources:
HonorStates.org
WikiTree.com
