Kenneth M. Taylor
Kenneth Marlar Taylor (December 23, 1919 – November 25, 2006) was a United States Air Force officer and a flying ace of World War II.He was a new United States Army Air Corps second lieutenant pilot stationed at Wheeler Field during the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941.[1][2] He graduated from aviation training at Brooks Field near San Antonio, Texas on April 25, 1941, reaching the rank of second lieutenant and was assigned to class 41C.[5] Prior to the attack on Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941, Taylor spent the night before playing poker and dancing at the officers' club at Wheeler with fellow pilot George Welch, and did not go to sleep until 6:30 a.m. local time.[8] The new Buick he drove was strafed by Japanese aircraft as the two pilots sped the 10 miles (16 km) to Haleiwa; Taylor at times reached speeds of 100 mph (160 km/h).[10][11] After they took off, they headed towards Barber's Point at the southwest tip of Oahu, and initially saw an unarmed group of American B-17 Flying Fortress bombers arriving from the mainland United States.[12] They soon arrived at Ewa Mooring Mast Field, which was being strafed by at least 12 Aichi D3A "Val" dive bombers of the second Japanese attack wave after dropping their bombs at Pearl Harbor.[4] Taylor headed for a group of Japanese aircraft, and due to a combination of clouds and smoke, he unintentionally entered the middle of the formation of seven or eight A6M Zeros.After landing and driving back to Wheeler, Taylor and Welch passed by their squadron commander, Major Gordon H. Austin, who noticed that they were wearing their tuxedo attire."[12] According to the 25th Infantry Division's Tropic Lightning Museum, 14 different American pilots were able to take off during the surprise attack and record 10 Japanese aircraft kills.At the end of World War II, Taylor had reached the rank of major and went to the Philippines to command a squadron that used the first United States Air Force combat jets, the Lockheed F-80 Shooting Star.[1] His awards and decorations include: The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress, July 9, 1918, takes pleasure in presenting the Distinguished Service Cross to Second Lieutenant (Air Corps) Kenneth Marlar Taylor, United States Army Air Forces, for extraordinary heroism in connection with military operations against an armed enemy while serving as Pilot of a P-40 Fighter Airplane in the 47th Pursuit Squadron, 18th Pursuit Group, Hawaiian Air Force, in aerial combat against enemy forces on 7 December 1941, in action over the Island of Oahu, Territory of Hawaii, and waters adjacent thereto.Reloading completed, but ammunition boxes not removed, a second wave of enemy planes attacked, approaching directly toward him at low altitude.Lieutenant Taylor's initiative, presence of mind, coolness under fire against overwhelming odds in his first battle, expert maneuvering of his plane, and determined action contributed to a large extent toward driving off this sudden, unexpected attack.The 2001 film Pearl Harbor featured a sequence in which the characters portrayed by Ben Affleck and Josh Hartnett took to the skies to fight the Japanese."[1] After contracting an illness from a hip surgery two years prior, Taylor died on November 25, 2006, of a strangulated hernia at an assisted living residence in Tucson, Arizona.
Enid, OklahomaTucson, ArizonaArlington National CemeteryUnited StatesUnited States Army Air CorpsUnited States Army Air ForcesUnited States Air ForceAlaska Air National GuardBrigadier GeneralWorld War IIAttack on Pearl HarborCold WarDistinguished Service CrossArmy Distinguished Service MedalLegion of MeritPurple HeartAir MedalAviation insuranceflying aceWheeler FieldJapanese attack on Pearl HarborGeorge WelchTora! Tora! Tora!Pearl HarborHominy, OklahomaUniversity of OklahomaArmy Air CorpsBrooks FieldSan Antonio, Texas47th Pursuit SquadronWheeler Army AirfieldHonolulu, HawaiiCurtiss P-40Haleiwa.30 cal BrowningBarber's PointB-17 Flying FortressAichi D3A.50 calchandelleA6M ZerosA6M ZeroDistinguished Service MedalMedal of HonorLockheed F-80 Shooting Star44th Fighter SquadronGuadalcanal12th Pursuit SquadronPhilippinesThe PentagonAlaskan Air CommandU.S. Air Force Command Pilot BadgeAir Force Outstanding Unit AwardAmerican Defense Service Medalservice starAmerican Campaign MedalAsiatic-Pacific Campaign Medalcampaign starsWorld War II Victory MedalArmy of Occupation MedalNational Defense Service MedalAir Force Longevity Service Awardoak leaf clusterPhilippine Independence MedalHennessey, OklahomaVietnam WarCarl ReindelBen AffleckJosh Hartnettstrangulated herniaTed StevenseulogyUnited States SenateThe Washington PostThe San Diego Union TribuneThe New York TimesThe Daily TelegraphNovatoAmerican Aviation Historical SocietyUnited States ArmyLos Angeles TimesDepartment of DefenseGreat BritainNew YorkAssociated PressAir Force MagazineHonolulu Star-BulletinThe Daily Yomiuri