Sponsored by:

Navy Federal Credit Union
Will
W.
Taylor
January 7, 1915

–

June 17, 2001

Born:

Bertram

, 

Texas

Home:

Bertram

, 

Texas

Buried: 

Marianna

, 

Florida

Cemetery:

Pinecrest Memorial Gardens

Will Taylor became a World War II Navy ACE, credited with shooting down six enemy aircraft in aerial combat.

Awards Received

  • Silver Star

    Service:

    United States Navy

    Rank:

    Lieutenant

    Batallion:

    Fighting Squadron 4 (VF-4)

    Division:

    U.S.S. Essex (CV-9)

    Action Date:

    World War II
    Bureau of Naval Personnel Information Bulletin No. 364 (June 1947)

    (Citation Needed) – SYNOPSIS: Lieutenant Will W. Taylor, United States Navy, was awarded the Silver Star for gallantry in action while serving as Pilot of a Fighter Plane in Fighting Squadron FOUR (VF-4), during World War II. His gallant actions and dedicated devotion to duty, without regard for his own life, were in keeping with the highest traditions of military service and reflect great credit upon himself and the United States Naval Service.

  • Distinguished Flying Cross

    Service:

    United States Navy

    Rank:

    Lieutenant

    Batallion:

    Fighting Squadron 4 (VF-4)

    Division:

    U.S.S. Essex (CV-9)

    Action Date:

    February 4, 1945
    Bureau of Naval Personnel Information Bulletin No. 344 (November 1945) & No. 366 (August 1947)

    (Citation Needed) – SYNOPSIS: Lieutenant Will W. Taylor, United States Navy, was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross for extraordinary achievement while participating in aerial flight while leading his division in Fighting Squadron FOUR (VF-4), embarked in U.S.S. ESSEX (CV-9), in action on 4 February 1945, against a numerically superior formation of enemy fighters, shooting down two and causing a third to explode in mid-air in the Tokyo area.

  • Silver Star

    Service:

    United States Navy

    Rank:

    Lieutenant

    Batallion:

    Fighting Squadron 4 (VF-4)

    Division:

    U.S.S. Essex (CV-9)

    Action Date:

    February 16, 1945
    Bureau of Naval Personnel Information Bulletin No. 364 (June 1947)

    (Citation Needed) – SYNOPSIS: Lieutenant Will W. Taylor, United States Navy, was awarded a Gold Star in lieu of a Second Award of the Silver Star for gallantry in action while serving as Pilot of a Fighter Plane in Fighting Squadron FOUR (VF-4), embarked in U.S.S. ESSEX (CV-9), over the Tokyo area on 16 February 1945. His gallant actions and dedicated devotion to duty, without regard for his own life, were in keeping with the highest traditions of military service and reflect great credit upon himself and the United States Naval Service.