Gordon Taylor (aviator) explained

Sir Gordon Taylor
Birth Date:1896 10, df=yes
Birth Place:Mosman, New South Wales
Death Place:Honolulu, Hawaii
Allegiance:United Kingdom
Australia
Branch:Royal Flying Corps
Royal Australian Air Force
Serviceyears:1916–19
1943–44
Rank:Squadron leader
Battles:First World War
Second World War
Awards:George Cross
Knight Bachelor
Military Cross

Sir Patrick Gordon Taylor, (21 October 1896 – 15 December 1966), commonly known as Bill Taylor, was an Australian aviator and author. He was born in Mosman, Sydney, and died in Honolulu.

Taylor attended The Armidale School in northern New South Wales. At the beginning of the First World War he applied to join the Australian Flying Corps but was rejected. He subsequently went to Britain and was commissioned into the Royal Flying Corps in 1916, joining No. 66 Squadron. He was awarded the Military Cross in 1917 and promoted to captain, also serving with Nos. 94 and 88 Squadrons.

Following the war, he returned to Australia and embarked on a career in civil aviation, working as a private pilot for de Havilland Aircraft Company in the 1920s. He flew as a captain with Australian National Airways 1930–31. He also completed an engineering course and studied aerial navigation.

He served as a second pilot or navigator on pioneering flights with Charles Kingsford Smith, Charles Ulm and others. During the 1935 Australia-New Zealand airmail flight with Charles Kingsford Smith, the starboard engine failed and the crew decided to return to Sydney, where the aircraft was buffeted by strong winds. It was decided that fuel and cargo must be jettisoned. During these conditions, Taylor made six journeys outside the cabin of the Southern Cross, climbing along the under-wing strut to drain the oil from the useless motor and transfer this to the overheating port motor. Taylor's actions, with the addition of Smith's flying skills, resulted in the plane making its way back to land safely. Taylor was later awarded the Empire Gallantry Medal for his actions,[1] which was later exchanged for the George Cross.

In 1943 he was commissioned flying officer in the Royal Australian Air Force, transferring to the Royal Air Force in 1944. During the Second World War, Captain Taylor served as a ferry pilot for the Air Transport Auxiliary.Taylor was knighted in 1954.[2]

Pioneering flights

Bibliography

Books authored by Taylor include:

References

Footnotes
  • Bibliography
  • Notes and References

    1. Web site: It's an Honour: Empire Gallantry Medal . 22 October 2012 . 3 April 2018 . https://web.archive.org/web/20180403173729/http://www.itsanhonour.gov.au/honours/honour_roll/search.cfm?aus_award_id=1073751&search_type=simple&showInd=true . live .
    2. Web site: It's an Honour: Knight Bachelor . 22 October 2012 . 4 March 2016 . https://web.archive.org/web/20160304052018/http://www.itsanhonour.gov.au/honours/honour_roll/search.cfm?aus_award_id=1083726&search_type=simple&showInd=true . live .