Lucky Bag Yearbook

From the 1950 Lucky Bag:

WILLIAM BLAKELY TAYLOR

Wild Bill arrived at Navy fresh from the deep South, bringing with him an easy grin, a tattered Confederate flag, and a passion for bridge. During his four years, Bill had varying interests: soccer, bridge, and his favorite study, mathematics. Before entering the Academy, Bill attended the University of Alabama, where he majored in Engineering. With this background, academics came easily and, consequently, studying occupied a minor portion of his time. Most of his studying time seemed to be spent helping his less savvy friends through the terrors of academic life.

Loss & Obituary

From the Arizona Daily Star on August 12, 1953:

Tucson Pilot Dies

First Lt. William E B. Taylor, 25, of Tucson, a veteran of 100 Korean combat missions, was killed Monday when his F86 jet fighter plane crashed near Indian Springs, Nev.

A gunnery instructor at Nellis Air Force Base near Las Vegas, he was leading a group of trainees when his plane went into a dive and failed to pull out.

Lieutenant Taylor was the son of Mrs. Florence S. Taylor, of 585 South Wilson avenue, and a 1950 graduate of the U.S. Naval academy, Annapolis, Md. The holder of the Distinguished Flying Cross and the Air Medal with two clusters, he was assigned to Nellis Air Force Base after spending 11 months in Korea.

Born in Tuscaloosa, Ala., Lieutenant Taylor attended the University of Alabama for a year and a half before entering the naval academy, After graduating he accepted a commission in the air force and went to Randolph field, Tex., to take primary flight training. In 1951 he received his wings at Craig air force base, in Alabama, and then was transferred to Luke air force base, Phoenix for pre-combat flying.

He was a third degree Mason and a member of Pi Kappa Phi social fraternity. In addition to his mother, he is survived by a sister, Mrs. O. J. Timian, of Tucson.

Mrs. Taylor and her daughter are leaving today for Tuscaloosa, where funeral services and burial will take place.

Other Information

From researcher Kathy Franz:

“Billy” graduated from Tuscaloosa High School in 1944. “When devilment calls, he listens.” Greasepainters ’41, ’42, ’43; Boys Hi-Y ’42, ’43; Victory Corps ’42; Spanish Club ’41; Don’t Take My Penny ’43.

In 1940, William’s mother Florence was a bookkeeper in a furniture store, and his sister Eugenia was a waitress. His father was also William B., who was a bookkeeper for a lumber company in 1930. He died in 1932.

He is buried in Alabama.

Photographs

From his high school yearbook

Memorial Hall Error

William is not listed with his classmates. This mistake was discovered by researcher Kathy Franz.