LEST WE FORGET
Sergeant Arthur Charles Hilton TAYLOR
Service No: 413914
Born: Campsie NSW, 28 July 1922
Enlisted in the RAAF: 13 September 1941
Unit: No. 22 Squadron
Died: Air Operations: (No. 22 Squadron Boston aircraft A2808), near Lae PNG, 24 May 1943, Aged 20 Years
Buried: Port Moresby (Bomana) War Cemetery PNG
CWGC Additional Information: Son of James John and Evelyn Taylor, of Belmore, New South Wales
Roll of Honour: Belmore NSW
Remembered: Panel 101, Commemorative Area, Australian War Memorial, Canberra ACT
On 24 May 1943, Boston A28-8 was one of five aircraft detailed to carry out a low level attack on a shipwreck in the vicinity of Lae, Papua New Guinea, known to be used by the Japanese. The attack was carried out in moonlight at 0530 hours. A28-8 was the third aircraft to make a run at the target. When on the tactical approach, the aircraft was picked up in a searchlight beam and was held in it until the final getaway was made. Anti-aircraft fire was encountered as A28-8 pulled away from the target, and the aircraft received several hits. Sergeant Taylor, a Wireless Air Gunner was manning the guns at the rear bottom hatch, and it received a direct hit from a medium anti-aircraft shell and he was killed instantly. The Top Gunner was also severely injured in the right foot. The aircraft returned safely to base.
The crew members of A28-8 were:
Sergeant David Oliphant Duncan (401641) (Rear Top Gunner) Severely injured, Discharged from the RAAF: 6 October 1944
Flying Officer Harold Mitford Rowell (406958) (Pilot) Discharged from the RAAF: 5 May 1945
Sergeant Arthur Charles Hilton Taylor (413914) (Rear Bottom Gunner)
References:
Australian War Memorial Roll of Honour On-Line Records
Commonwealth War Graves Commission On-Line Records
Department of Veterans’ Affairs On-Line WWII Nominal Roll
National Archives of Australia On-Line Record A705, 166/39/80
Bibliography:
Rowell, Harold Mitford (406958) Reminiscences, Harold Rowell, 2000