Sergeant Thomas William Taylor (405529) served with the Royal New Zealand Air Force during the Second World War. He was the son of Sidney James Taylor and Evelyn May Taylor of Koromiko, Marlborough, New Zealand.
The New Zealander was an Air Gunner attached to R.A.F. 120 Squadron. He died on 21st August 1942 aged 20 years old on Liberator LV340/X. The crew took off from R.A.F. Ballykelly, Co. Londonderry bound for R.A.F. Nutts Corner, Co. Antrim on a test flight.
Liberator LV340 Crash
At 1150hrs, the plane came down in low cloud and mist. The wreckage was strewn on the 1100 feet slopes of Big Trosk Mountain to the north of Waterfall Road, north-west of Carnlough, Co. Antrim. All 8 crew members on board died as a result of the incident. The others were members of the Royal Air Force and included a decorated ace who served in The Great War.
| Last Name | First Name(s) | Rank | Role |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ainslie | R | Pilot Officer | Wireless Operator / Air Gunner |
| Dear | MF | Flying Officer | Pilot |
| Gomperts | AB | Pilot Officer | Navigator |
| Goode DSO DFC AFC | HK | Group Captain | Passenger |
| Humphrey | C | Sergeant | Flight Engineer |
| McQuay | I | Sergeant | Wireless Operator / Air Gunner |
| Meyer | AB | Sergeant | Second Pilot |
| Taylor | TW | Sergeant | Wireless Operator / Air Gunner |
Thomas William Taylor’s grave is in Plot W, Grave 13 of Finlagan Church of Ireland Churchyard, Tamlaght, Co. Fermanagh.