CREW MEMBER PROFILE

Surname:

TAYLOR

First Name/s:

Edmund Arthur James "Lofty"

Service No/s:

1622426

Service:

RAFVR

Branch:

NAV

Awards:

Return

SERVICE RECORDS

Date

Event

Aircraft Flown

01 Oct 1941

Enlisted Cardington at some point after 1 October 1941.

01 Aug 1943

Embarked UK
Disembarked South Africa
Dates TBC.

01 Sep 1943

No. 48 Air School, Woodbridge, East London, South Africa - Elementary Air Navigation school

Nov 43 - 45 Air School, Oudtshoorn, SA - Advanced Navigation training
Embarked SA
Disembarked UK
Dates TBC.

Tiger Moth
Tutor
Oxford
Anson
Battle

04 Jun 1944

Set Rank from Flight Record

01 Jul 1944

No. 7 Observer (O) Advanced Flying Unit (AFU), Bishops Court, Northern Ireland.
Dates TBC.

Anson

01 Nov 1944

No. 12 Operational Traininng Unit (OTU), Chipping Warden, Northamptonshire: Hood crew formed.
Date TBC.

Wellington

01 Jan 1945

No. 1660 Heavy Conversion Unit (HCU), Swinderby, Lincolnshire.
Date TBC.

Lancaster

01 Mar 1945

Joined No. 576 Squadron at Fiskerton, Lincolnshire. Date TBC.

Lancaster

04 Apr 1945

Set Rank from Flight Record

04 Apr 1945

Set Rank from Flight Record

13 Apr 1945

Set Rank from Flight Record

18 Apr 1945

Set Rank from Flight Record

22 Apr 1945

Set Rank from Flight Record

25 Apr 1945

Set Rank from Flight Record

29 Apr 1945

Set Rank from Flight Record

30 Apr 1945

Set Rank from Flight Record

01 May 1945

Set Rank from Flight Record

03 May 1945

Set Rank from Flight Record

05 May 1945

Set Rank from Flight Record

07 May 1945

Set Rank from Flight Record

22 Aug 1945

Set Rank from Flight Record

24 Aug 1945

Set Rank from Flight Record

09 Sep 1945

Set Rank from Flight Record

12 Sep 1945

Set Rank from Flight Record

16 Sep 1945

No. 50 Squadron, Sturgate, Lincolnshire.

Lancaster

19 Nov 1945

No. 16 Ferry Unit, Dunkeswell, Devon.

01 Feb 1946

Embarked UK. Date TBC

10 Feb 1946

Disembarked Egypt.
Date TBC.

15 Feb 1946

No. 2 Personnel Transit Centre, Almaza, Cairo, Egypt.
175 Sqn, Fayid
70 Sqn, Fayid
Dates TBC.

576 Squadron FLYING RECORDS

Date

Aircraft

Code

Flight Details

T/O

Land

Flt Time

Crew

04 Jun 1944

ME492

UL-J

Training

nk

nk

7h15

P1   Fg Off W.J.C. Hood
P2   
FE   Flt Sgt C.F. Lea
AB   Sgt R.G. Ashford
NAV  Sgt E.A.J. Taylor
WOp  Sgt R.A. Lisk
MUG  Sgt J.W. Farrow
RG   Sgt W.E. Culshaw

NOTES:

Night 'Y' (H2S) cross-country navigation exercise over France

28 Mar 1945

NX576

UL-K2

Training

1215

1755

5h40

P1   Plt Off W.J.C. Hood
P2   
FE    C.F. Lea
AB   Sgt R.G. Ashford
NAV  Sgt E.A.J. Taylor
WOp  Sgt R.A. Lisk
MUG  Sgt J.W. Farrow
RG   Sgt W.E. Culshaw

NOTES:

Loaded cross-country navigation exercise with high-level bombing at a range

03 Apr 1945

RE127

UL-L2

Training

1135

1350

2h15

P1   Plt Off W.J.C. Hood
P2   
FE   Flt Sgt C.F. Lea
AB   Sgt R.G. Ashford
NAV  Sgt E.A.J. Taylor
WOp  Sgt R.A. Lisk
MUG  Sgt J.W. Farrow
RG   Sgt W.E. Culshaw

NOTES:

High-level bombing at a range, fighter affiliation, and air-to-sea firing

04 Apr 1945

LM294

UL-P2

Air Test

1300

1410

1h10

P1    W.J.C. Hood
P2   
FE    C.F. Lea
AB   Sgt R.G. Ashford
NAV   E.A.J. Taylor
WOp   R.A. Lisk
MUG   J.W. Farrow
RG    W.E. Culshaw

NOTES:

Air test

13 Apr 1945

NX562

UL-F

Training

1415

1810

3h55

P1   Plt Off W.J.C. Hood
P2   
FE   Flt Sgt C.F. Lea
AB   Sgt R.G. Ashford
NAV  Sgt E.A.J. Taylor
WOp  Sgt R.A. Lisk
MUG  Sgt J.W. Farrow
RG   Sgt W.E. Culshaw

NOTES:

Low-level cross-country navigation exercise, high-level bombing at a range, and air-to-sea firing

18 Apr 1945

LM227

UL-I

HELIGOLAND

1005

1450

4h45

P1   Plt Off W.J.C. Hood
P2   
FE   Flt Sgt C.F. Lea
AB   Sgt R.G. Ashford
NAV  Sgt E.A.J. Taylor
WOp  Sgt R.A. Lisk
MUG  Sgt J.W. Farrow
RG   Sgt W.E. Culshaw

NOTES:

Target: Naval base, submarine repair yards, airfield & built-up area Load: 12x 1000lb and 4x 500lb bombs

20 Apr 1945

RE127

UL-L

Training

1430

1505

0h35

P1   Plt Off W.J.C. Hood
P2   
FE   Flt Sgt C.F. Lea
AB   Sgt R.G. Ashford
NAV  Sgt E.A.J. Taylor
WOp  Sgt R.A. Lisk
MUG  Sgt J.W. Farrow
RG   Sgt W.E. Culshaw

NOTES:

Sack dropping in practice for Operation MANNA; dropped at 300 ft

22 Apr 1945

RE127

UL-L

BREMEN

1525

2045

5h20

P1   Plt Off W.J.C. Hood
P2   
FE   Flt Sgt C.F. Lea
AB   Sgt R.G. Ashford
NAV  Sgt E.A.J. Taylor
WOp  Sgt R.A. Lisk
MUG  Sgt W.E. Culshaw
RG   Sgt J.W. Farrow

NOTES:

Target: The Focke-Wulf aircraft factory and enemy troop concentrations. Flown in support of the British XXX Corps who were attacking the city. Load: 1x 4000lb, 6x 1000lb, and 8x 500lb bombs The Master Bomber abandoned the attack due to low cloud cover over target and instructed crews to bring bombs back. The less experienced crews jettisoned their bombloads.

23 Apr 1945

ME492

UL-J

Training

1535

1830

2h55

P1   Plt Off W.J.C. Hood
P2   
FE   Flt Sgt C.F. Lea
AB   Sgt R.G. Ashford
NAV  Sgt E.A.J. Taylor
WOp  Sgt R.A. Lisk
MUG  Sgt J.W. Farrow
RG   Sgt W.E. Culshaw

NOTES:

Low-level cross-country navigation exercise with bombing on a range

24 Apr 1945

LM594

UL-A

Air Test

1930

1945

0h15

P1   Plt Off W.J.C. Hood
P2   
FE   Flt Sgt C.F. Lea
AB   Sgt R.G. Ashford
NAV  Sgt E.A.J. Taylor
WOp  Sgt R.A. Lisk
MUG  Sgt J.W. Farrow
RG   Sgt W.E. Culshaw

NOTES:

Flight Test

25 Apr 1945

RE127

UL-L

BERCHTESGADEN

0530

1335

8h05

P1   Plt Off W.J.C. Hood
P2   
FE   Flt Sgt C.F. Lea
AB   Sgt R.G. Ashford
NAV  Sgt E.A.J. Taylor
WOp  Sgt R.A. Lisk
MUG  Sgt W.E. Culshaw
RG   Sgt J.W. Farrow

NOTES:

Target: Hitler’s ‘Eagle’s Nest’ complex & SS barracks Load: 1x 4000lb, 4x 1000lb, and 1x 500lb bombs

29 Apr 1945

RF200

UL-D

VALKENBURG (LEIDEN) AIRFIELD

1145

1440

2h55

P1   Plt Off W.J.C. Hood
P2   
FE   Flt Sgt C.F. Lea
AB   Sgt R.G. Ashford
NAV  Sgt E.A.J. Taylor
WOp  Sgt R.A. Lisk
MUG  Sgt W.E. Culshaw
RG   Sgt J.W. Farrow

NOTES:

Operation MANNA. Dropping food for the starving Dutch population. Load: All aircraft: 4 blocks

30 Apr 1945

RF200

UL-D

DELFT (THE HAGUE) AIRFIELD

1505

1810

3h05

P1   Plt Off W.J.C. Hood
P2   
FE   Flt Sgt C.F. Lea
AB   Sgt R.G. Ashford
NAV  Sgt E.A.J. Taylor
WOp  Sgt R.A. Lisk
MUG  Sgt W.E. Culshaw
RG   Sgt J.W. Farrow

NOTES:

Operation MANNA. Dropping food for the starving Dutch population. Load: 4 blocks

01 May 1945

RF200

UL-D

ROTTERDAM

1505

1825

3h20

P1   Fg Off W.J.C. Hood
P2   
FE   Flt Sgt C.F. Lea
AB   Sgt R.G. Ashford
NAV  Sgt E.A.J. Taylor
WOp  Sgt R.A. Lisk
MUG  Sgt J.W. Farrow
RG   Sgt W.E. Culshaw

NOTES:

Operation MANNA. Dropping food for the starving Dutch population. Load: All aircraft: 4 blocks

03 May 1945

RF200

UL-D

VALKENBURG (LEIDEN) AIRFIELD

1025

1320

2h55

P1   Fg Off W.J.C. Hood
P2   
FE   Flt Sgt C.F. Lea
AB   Sgt R.G. Ashford
NAV  Sgt E.A.J. Taylor
WOp  Sgt R.A. Lisk
MUG  Sgt R.A. Farrell
RG   Sgt W.E. Culshaw

NOTES:

Operation MANNA. Dropping food for the starving Dutch population. Load: All aircraft: 4 blocks

05 May 1945

RF200

UL-D

ROTTERDAM

0640

0945

3h05

P1   Fg Off W.J.C. Hood
P2   
FE   Flt Sgt C.F. Lea
AB   Sgt R.G. Ashford
NAV  Sgt E.A.J. Taylor
WOp  Sgt R.A. Lisk
MUG  Sgt J.W. Farrow
RG   Sgt W.E. Culshaw

NOTES:

Operation MANNA. Dropping food for the starving Dutch population. Load: All aircraft: 4 blocks

07 May 1945

RA562

UL-B

ROTTERDAM

1215

1555

3h40

P1   Fg Off W.J.C. Hood
P2   
FE   Flt Sgt C.F. Lea
AB   Sgt R.G. Ashford
NAV  Sgt E.A.J. Taylor
WOp  Sgt R.A. Lisk
MUG  Sgt J.W. Farrow
RG   Sgt W.E. Culshaw

NOTES:

Operation MANNA. Dropping food for the starving Dutch population. Load: All aircraft: 4 blocks

11 May 1945

NF976

UL-Z

Training

nk

nk

0h55

P1   Fg Off W.J.C. Hood
P2   
FE   Flt Sgt C.F. Lea
AB   Sgt R.G. Ashford
NAV  Sgt E.A.J. Taylor
WOp  Sgt R.A. Lisk
MUG  Sgt J.W. Farrow
RG   Sgt W.E. Culshaw

NOTES:

Circuits and landings

03 Jun 1945

RF200

UL-D

Positioning Flight

nk

nk

0h25

P1   Fg Off W.J.C. Hood
P2   
FE   Flt Sgt C.F. Lea
AB   Sgt R.G. Ashford
NAV  Sgt E.A.J. Taylor
WOp  Sgt R.A. Lisk
MUG  Sgt J.W. Farrow
RG   Sgt W.E. Culshaw

NOTES:

Positioning flight to North Luffenham, following the W A A Woodruff crew in their LM584, UL-A

03 Jun 1945

RF200

UL-D

Positioning Flight

nk

nk

0h20

P1   Fg Off W.J.C. Hood
P2   
FE   Flt Sgt C.F. Lea
AB   Sgt R.G. Ashford
NAV  Sgt E.A.J. Taylor
WOp  Sgt R.A. Lisk
MUG  Sgt J.W. Farrow
RG   Sgt W.E. Culshaw

NOTES:

North Luffenham to Base, carrying the W A A Woodruff crew as passengers

06 Jun 1945

NX576

UL-K

Training

nk

nk

0h30

P1   Fg Off W.J.C. Hood
P2   
FE   Flt Sgt C.F. Lea
AB   Sgt R.G. Ashford
NAV  Sgt E.A.J. Taylor
WOp  Sgt R.A. Lisk
MUG  Sgt J.W. Farrow
RG   Sgt W.E. Culshaw

NOTES:

Fighter affiliation

07 Jun 1945

SW276

UL-G

Training

nk

nk

2h25

P1   Fg Off W.J.C. Hood
P2   
FE   Flt Sgt C.F. Lea
AB   Sgt R.G. Ashford
NAV  Sgt E.A.J. Taylor
WOp  Sgt R.A. Lisk
MUG  Sgt J.W. Farrow
RG   Sgt W.E. Culshaw

NOTES:

Air-to-sea firing, high-level bombing, and fighter affiliation

22 Aug 1945

NX576

UL-K

FISKERTON – POMIGLIANO

0735

nk

nk

P1   Fg Off W.J.C. Hood
P2   
FE   Flt Sgt C.F. Lea
AB   Sgt R.G. Ashford
NAV  Sgt E.A.J. Taylor
WOp  Flt Sgt G.T.E. Lynn
MUG  Sgt W.E. Culshaw
RG   

NOTES:

Operation DODGE These DODGE sorties comprised Pilot, Engineer, Air Bomber, Nav, WOp and a gunner in the mid-upper turret. The crews below are listed in that order.

24 Aug 1945

NX576

UL-K

POMIGLIANO – GLATTON

nk

nk

nk

P1   Fg Off W.J.C. Hood
P2   
FE   Flt Sgt C.F. Lea
AB   Sgt R.G. Ashford
NAV  Sgt E.A.J. Taylor
WOp  Flt Sgt G.T.E. Lynn
MUG  Sgt W.E. Culshaw
RG   

NOTES:

DODGE These DODGE sorties comprised Pilot, Engineer, Air Bomber, Nav, WOp and a gunner in the mid-upper turret. The crews below are listed in that order.

24 Aug 1945

NX576

UL-K

GLATTON – FISKERTON

nk

1820

nk

P1   Fg Off W.J.C. Hood
P2   
FE   Flt Sgt C.F. Lea
AB   Sgt R.G. Ashford
NAV  Sgt E.A.J. Taylor
WOp  Flt Sgt G.T.E. Lynn
MUG  Sgt W.E. Culshaw
RG   

NOTES:

Operation DODGE These DODGE sorties comprised Pilot, Engineer, Air Bomber, Nav, WOp and a gunner in the mid-upper turret. The crews below are listed in that order.

09 Sep 1945

RF200

UL-D

FISKERTON – POMIGLIANO

0755

nk

nk

P1   Fg Off W.J.C. Hood
P2   
FE   Flt Sgt C.F. Lea
AB   Flt Sgt R.G. Ashford
NAV  Flt Sgt E.A.J. Taylor
WOp  Flt Sgt R.A. Lisk
MUG  Flt Sgt J.W. Farrow
RG   

NOTES:

Operation DODGE These DODGE sorties comprised Pilot, Engineer, Air Bomber, Nav, WOp and a gunner in the mid-upper turret. The crews below are listed in that order.

12 Sep 1945

RF200

UL-D

POMIGLIANO – GLATTON

nk

nk

nk

P1   Fg Off W.J.C. Hood
P2   
FE   Flt Sgt C.F. Lea
AB   Flt Sgt R.G. Ashford
NAV  Flt Sgt E.A.J. Taylor
WOp  Flt Sgt R.A. Lisk
MUG  Flt Sgt J.W. Farrow
RG   

NOTES:

12 Sep 1945 Operation DODGE These DODGE sorties comprised Pilot, Engineer, Air Bomber, Nav, WOp and a gunner in the mid-upper turret. The crews below are listed in that order.

12 Sep 1945

RF200

UL-D

GLATTON - FISKERTON

nk

1655

nk

P1   Fg Off W.J.C. Hood
P2   
FE   Flt Sgt C.F. Lea
AB   Flt Sgt R.G. Ashford
NAV  Flt Sgt E.A.J. Taylor
WOp  Flt Sgt R.A. Lisk
MUG  Flt Sgt J.W. Farrow
RG   

NOTES:

Operation DODGE These DODGE sorties comprised Pilot, Engineer, Air Bomber, Nav, WOp and a gunner in the mid-upper turret. The crews below are listed in that order.

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