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Auction: 24113 - Orders, Decorations and Medals - e-Auction
Lot: 843

The Great War Pilot's Flying Log Book belonging to Lieutenant H. C. Taylor, Royal Air Force, late Royal Flying Corps, beginning in October 1917, very fine

Herbert Cyril Taylor was born on 17 June 1899 and was noted as being a Lieutenant with the Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders as of 1 April 1918, becoming an Aeroplane and Seaplane Officer on the same date - the log book, however, begins on 27 October 1917.

Taylor completed his first solo on 9 December 1917 and joined 79 Squadron on 13 April 1918 and carried out his first Patrol on 15 May 1918 flying a Sopwith Dolphin. The following day Taylor crash landed, resulting in him being admitted to 24 General Hospital at Etaples. This is followed from 16 June onwards with a number of Offensive Patrols. On 20 July 1918, Taylor operated in the Ypres-Nieppe Forest front and chased three two-seater enemy aircraft, his log book notes "one out of control between Baillent & Armentieres. Unable to get confirmed".

Taylor remained in the Ypres-Nieppe Forest Front until 13 August 1918, when in the afternoon he attacked a Balloon with a Camera Gun in the Cassel-Boulogne area. The following day he returned to the Ypres-Nieppe Front, and was shot down on 15 August by a Fokker where he suffered engine failure. The remainder of August he carried out a further eleven patrols and ended his wartime flying on 27 August 1918, having completed 111.25 flying hours. He was dispersed on 22 April 1919.

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Sold for
£170

Starting price
£100