Gilford Dudley Taylor, Jr.
Gilford Dudley “G.D.” Taylor, Junior was a Marine Corps dive-bomber pilot who went missing on a flight between Segi Strip, New Georgia, and Henderson Field, Guadalcanal on 7 August 1943.
Branch
Marine Corps Reserve (Aviation)
Service Number O-15370
Current Status
Remains Not Recovered
DPAA Pursuit Category
The DPAA has not publicized this information.
Circumstances Of Loss
2Lt. Taylor piloted SBD-4 06716 on a strike mission from Guadalcanal to New Georgia. Mechanical problems forced him to drop out of his flight; after jettisoning his bomb over Bairoko, Taylor proceeded to Segi Point for repairs.
Taylor departed Segi at 1433 hours on 7 August 1943, intending to fly back to Guadalcanal alone despite “unfavorable” flying conditions in the Solomon Islands. He never returned to base, and no trace of him or his aircraft was ever found.
Disposition Of Remains
Gilford Taylor was reported as missing in action on 7 August 1943, and “declared dead” on 8 August 1945. No further information is available about the possible location of his remains.
Service History
Date Of Birth:
12 January 1919
Location Of Birth:
Russellville, Arkansas
Immediate Family:
Parents, Gilford Sr. & Katherine Taylor
Siblings Roy, Robert, Earl, Neva
Education:
University of Arkansas, Fayetteville
Enlistment Date & Location:
12 March 1942
New Orleans, LA
Initial Training:
Naval Reserve Aviation Base, New Orleans, LA
Officer Training:
Pensacola, Florida
Commissioned 7 December 1942
Unit & Assignment:
VMSB-141
Pilot
Date Of Loss:
8 August 1943
Campaign or Battle:
Combat patrol in Solomon Islands
Casualty Type:
Missing In Action
Final Rank:
Second Lieutenant (at loss)
Captain (posthumous promotion)
Burial Details:
Remains Not Recovered
Next Of Kin Notified:
Wife, Mrs. Frances D. Taylor
of Earle, AR
Individual Decorations
