TOP
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39th Bomb Group (VH)
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Nav. Badge
Navigator's
Badge

Decorations
airmedal.gif [The Air Medal]
with
1

br_oak2.jpg [Bronze Oak Leaf Cluster]


Unit Citation

arpuc.jpg [The Presidental Unit Citation]


with
Oak Leaf Cluster

Service Awards

apcm.jpg [The Asiatic-Pacfic Campaign Medal]

with

star1.gif [Bronze Star]


wwiivic.gif [The Victory Medal, World War II]


[Search Tip: Use " " for better search results ex. "John Q. Doe"; "City of ..."]
Capt. Chester W. Taylor
Navigator

The following information was submitted by Chester W. Taylor of Greenville, NC.

Captain Taylor became the Squadron Navigator after leaving the crew.  He got in about 15 missions with P-28.

Capt. Taylor flew with Crew 28 May 5, while flying as a Superdumbo off the coast of Japan.  Miller and his crew had been conducting a search off Shikoku Island when they say an American submarine surface below.  Two Rufes (Zeros with pontoons) came in making for the submarines for the purpose of attacking it.  Seeing the danger to the surfaced vessel, Miller decided to join the battle and protect it.  The "City of Virgina Beach" went from 1000 feet to the deck PDQ!  Lt Rogers shot down one Ruffe; we saw the explosion and flames hit the ocean.  The other Rufe turned and disappeared.  Miller was awarded the Oak Leaf Cluster to his Distinguished Flying Cross for this mission.

Chester Taylor left Guam about September 20, 1945, on emergency leave and never got any addresses of the crew.  He has had no other contact with the crew.

* 1st Lt. Jonas Rosenfeld replaced Taylor as Navigator on Crew 28.  No information on Rosenfeld or any of the other crew members is known.

Crew 28 Main Page
61st Squadron Crew Index
Sources: "History of the 39th Bomb Group"