John E. Taylor, Jr.


Preferred Name: 

Nickname/Call Sign: Jet

Date of Birth: January 14, 1924 (January 15, 2019)

Highest Military Grade Held: Major General

Hometown: Springfield, MA

  • Rock Shep

Biography

An American hero passes: Maj. Gen. John E. Taylor Jr. laid to rest
He flew 250 combat missions By Lisa Trigg Tribune-Star,

Taylor attended flight school and began his Air Force career in 1943 in Honington, Suffolk, England, flying P-51 Mustangs in World War II, according to his biography. The missions ranged from escorting bombers and dive-bombing and strafing targets to area patrol missions across a swath of Europe.

After the war, he also few P-51s in the Indiana Air National Guard. When activated for duty during the Korean War, he flew the P-51, F-84 (Thunderjet) and F-86 (Sabre), completing 250 combat missions.
At the end of the Korean War, he returned to Indiana, eventually transferring to an Air National Guard unit in Ohio to fly F-100 Super Sabres. As a lieutenant colonel, Taylor was appointed commander at Kunsan Air Base in Korea. He also few F-100 combat missions in South Vietnam.
He later transferred to the Air Force Reserve as commander at Tinker Air Force Base in Oklahoma, and later was promoted to colonel, serving at Carswell, Tinker and Hill Air Force Bases. He achieved the rank of brigadier general and was later appointed major general.

Units Assigned

  • 1943 Entered USAF WWII, Suffolk England, P-51
  • 39th Fighter-Interceptor Squadron, 364th Fighter Group, Korea (P-38/P-51, 102 missions)
  • 127th Tactical Fighter Wing, 49th Fighter-Interceptor Wing, Kunsan AB Korea (F-100/100 missions)
  • 335th Fighter-Interceptor Squadron, Korea (2.5 MIG kills)
  • 121st Tactical Fighter Wing, 301st Tactical Fighter Wing/CO, Vietnam (F-100)
  • 1969 507th Tactical Fighter Group, Tinker AB, OK
  • 507th/5-8th Tactical Fighter Group/301st Fighter Wing, Carswell AB, TX (F-105)
  • 10th AF, Texas ANG/CO
  • 1984 Retired USAF

Awards

Air Medal (with 13 Oak Leaf Clusters, 2 silver, 3 bronze)
American Campaign Medal
Army of Occupation Medal
Bronze Star
Distinguished Flying Cross (with 3 Oak Leaf Clusters)
Distinguished Service Medal
Korean Service Medal
Legion of Merit (with 2 Oak Leaf Clusters)
National Defense Service Medal
Purple Heart
Silver Star
United Nations Service Medal
World War II Victory Medal
Air Force Commendation Medal
Air Force Longevity Service Award (with 6 Oak Leaf Clusters, 1 silver, 1 bronze)
European-African-Middle Eastern Campaign Medal (with 4 Bronze stars)
Order of the Sword

Flight Info

P-38
P-51
F-84
F-86
F-100
F-105

Military Education

Civilian Education

An American hero passes: Maj. Gen. John E. Taylor Jr. laid to restJohn E. Taylor, Jr, Major General (USAF Ret.) “Headed West”, January 15, 2019
John E. Taylor Jr., 95, lived about seven years in the Terre Haute area when he was stationed at the Indiana Air National Guard base at Hulman Field after World War II.
He met and married wife Barbara Bronson Taylor in Terre Haute, and he stayed connected to the community through the years. His daughter, son and grandson said a final farewell Monday afternoon during a committal service in the chapel at Highland Lawn.
“We’re honored that all of the Air Force people came and we received such a nice honor guard, and my father received the respect we believe he deserves after serving his country for 41 years,” Elaine Greenwood said after the service.
She said her father was interested in auto racing and “anything that goes fast,” so being close to the Indianapolis Motor Speedway and the Terre Haute Action Track was a bonus for him. His nickname “Jet” was more than a reference to his initials or his profession as a pilot.
Taylor’s legacy in Indiana is well known, said Brig. Gen. Kip Clark, commander of the Indiana Air National Guard former commander of the 181st Intelligence Wing at Hulman Field.
“I believe General Taylor epitomizes the Air Force core values,” Clark said, noting Taylor was an especially talented aviator.
Museum photo On the job: John E. Taylor Jr., then a first lieutenant, in the 364th Fighter Group.
(Source of article: An American Hero passes: Major John E Taylor laid to rest by Lisa Trigg, Tribune Star, January 28, 2019)

Biography

Biography

An American hero passes: Maj. Gen. John E. Taylor Jr. laid to rest
He flew 250 combat missions By Lisa Trigg Tribune-Star,

Taylor attended flight school and began his Air Force career in 1943 in Honington, Suffolk, England, flying P-51 Mustangs in World War II, according to his biography. The missions ranged from escorting bombers and dive-bombing and strafing targets to area patrol missions across a swath of Europe.

After the war, he also few P-51s in the Indiana Air National Guard. When activated for duty during the Korean War, he flew the P-51, F-84 (Thunderjet) and F-86 (Sabre), completing 250 combat missions.
At the end of the Korean War, he returned to Indiana, eventually transferring to an Air National Guard unit in Ohio to fly F-100 Super Sabres. As a lieutenant colonel, Taylor was appointed commander at Kunsan Air Base in Korea. He also few F-100 combat missions in South Vietnam.
He later transferred to the Air Force Reserve as commander at Tinker Air Force Base in Oklahoma, and later was promoted to colonel, serving at Carswell, Tinker and Hill Air Force Bases. He achieved the rank of brigadier general and was later appointed major general.

Units - Education - Awards - Flight Info

Units Assigned

  • 1943 Entered USAF WWII, Suffolk England, P-51
  • 39th Fighter-Interceptor Squadron, 364th Fighter Group, Korea (P-38/P-51, 102 missions)
  • 127th Tactical Fighter Wing, 49th Fighter-Interceptor Wing, Kunsan AB Korea (F-100/100 missions)
  • 335th Fighter-Interceptor Squadron, Korea (2.5 MIG kills)
  • 121st Tactical Fighter Wing, 301st Tactical Fighter Wing/CO, Vietnam (F-100)
  • 1969 507th Tactical Fighter Group, Tinker AB, OK
  • 507th/5-8th Tactical Fighter Group/301st Fighter Wing, Carswell AB, TX (F-105)
  • 10th AF, Texas ANG/CO
  • 1984 Retired USAF

Awards

Air Medal (with 13 Oak Leaf Clusters, 2 silver, 3 bronze)
American Campaign Medal
Army of Occupation Medal
Bronze Star
Distinguished Flying Cross (with 3 Oak Leaf Clusters)
Distinguished Service Medal
Korean Service Medal
Legion of Merit (with 2 Oak Leaf Clusters)
National Defense Service Medal
Purple Heart
Silver Star
United Nations Service Medal
World War II Victory Medal
Air Force Commendation Medal
Air Force Longevity Service Award (with 6 Oak Leaf Clusters, 1 silver, 1 bronze)
European-African-Middle Eastern Campaign Medal (with 4 Bronze stars)
Order of the Sword

Flight Info

P-38
P-51
F-84
F-86
F-100
F-105

Military Education

Civilian Education

Photos
Headed West

An American hero passes: Maj. Gen. John E. Taylor Jr. laid to restJohn E. Taylor, Jr, Major General (USAF Ret.) “Headed West”, January 15, 2019
John E. Taylor Jr., 95, lived about seven years in the Terre Haute area when he was stationed at the Indiana Air National Guard base at Hulman Field after World War II.
He met and married wife Barbara Bronson Taylor in Terre Haute, and he stayed connected to the community through the years. His daughter, son and grandson said a final farewell Monday afternoon during a committal service in the chapel at Highland Lawn.
“We’re honored that all of the Air Force people came and we received such a nice honor guard, and my father received the respect we believe he deserves after serving his country for 41 years,” Elaine Greenwood said after the service.
She said her father was interested in auto racing and “anything that goes fast,” so being close to the Indianapolis Motor Speedway and the Terre Haute Action Track was a bonus for him. His nickname “Jet” was more than a reference to his initials or his profession as a pilot.
Taylor’s legacy in Indiana is well known, said Brig. Gen. Kip Clark, commander of the Indiana Air National Guard former commander of the 181st Intelligence Wing at Hulman Field.
“I believe General Taylor epitomizes the Air Force core values,” Clark said, noting Taylor was an especially talented aviator.
Museum photo On the job: John E. Taylor Jr., then a first lieutenant, in the 364th Fighter Group.
(Source of article: An American Hero passes: Major John E Taylor laid to rest by Lisa Trigg, Tribune Star, January 28, 2019)