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Post by Dave Homewood on Jul 3, 2014 1:19:23 GMT 12
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Post by Andy Wright on Jul 3, 2014 10:11:00 GMT 12
Fingers crossed. Are there any relatives who could help with a DNA sample? Great to read of such a good flying career but sad to read of his loss so close to the end of the war. He wasn't alone among the fighter-bomber chaps, though. They had a hard time of it right to the end of hostilities. Just been reading a book about an Australian pilot who flew with No. 61 Squadron over the same period and doing the same 'work'. Not pleasant at all. DFC and Bar. Is 'Hyphen' a well-known chap in aviation circles in NZ? I'm ashamed to say it's the first I've heard of him. www.hawkertempest.se/index.php/piloter/summary/103-taylor-cannon-keith |
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Post by errolmartyn on Jul 3, 2014 10:31:35 GMT 12
From Colin Hanson’s By Such Deeds - Honours and Awards in the Royal New Zealand Air Force, 1923-1999:
TAYLOR-CANNON, Squadron Leader Keith Granville, DFC*. NZ412284; Born Oamaru, 20 Dec 1921; RNZAF 13 Apr 1941 to (kao) 13 Apr 1945; Pilot.
Citation Distinguished Flying Cross (28 Mar 1944): (486 Sqn RNZAF (Typhoon/Tempest)] Throughout a long operational tour this pilot has displayed enthusiasm, courage and devotion to duty. He has taken part in numerous bombing sorties against military targets and by his determination to press home his attacks, regardless of enemy opposition, has played no small part in the success achieved. In addition Flight Lieutenant Taylor-Cannon has inflicted much damage on enemy shipping, shared in the destruction of a large enemy vessel and destroyed two Messerschmitt 109s.
Citation Bar to Distinguished Flying Cross (Imm) (21 Feb 1945): [486 Sqn RNZAF (Tempest)] Squadron Leader Taylor-Cannon has participated in a large number of sorties, and has led his flight and often the squadron with skill and determination, always pressing home his attacks whatever enemy opposition was encountered. The success achieved by the squadron has been mainly due to his brilliant leadership. A typical example of this occurred recently when his formation of seven aircraft was attacked [on 27 Dec 1944] by 30 enemy aircraft. Although outnumbered, Squadron leader Taylor-Cannon with dauntless courage unhesitatingly led the squadron in to attack. In the ensuing fight he personally destroyed one enemy aircraft of the four brought down by his squadron. Kao Dömitz, Germany, 13 Apr 1945 with 486 Sqn on his 361st sortie. Sqn Ldr Taylor-Cannon was leading a Tempest formation and while attacking enemy motorised transport his aircraft was hit by flak. He baled out but was not seen again. CO 486 Sqn Feb-Apr 1945. No known grave. Commemorated on the Runnymede Memorial.
Errol
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adam78
Leading Aircraftman
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Post by adam78 on Jul 30, 2014 23:00:22 GMT 12
Fingers crossed. Are there any relatives who could help with a DNA sample? Great to read of such a good flying career but sad to read of his loss so close to the end of the war. He wasn't alone among the fighter-bomber chaps, though. They had a hard time of it right to the end of hostilities. Just been reading a book about an Australian pilot who flew with No. 61 Squadron over the same period and doing the same 'work'. Not pleasant at all. DFC and Bar. Is 'Hyphen' a well-known chap in aviation circles in NZ? I'm ashamed to say it's the first I've heard of him. www.hawkertempest.se/index.php/piloter/summary/103-taylor-cannon-keithHi, Keith "Hyphen" Cannon-Taylor had 1 brother and 3 sisters, none are who are alive today, sadly. However, he has many remaining nephews and nieces who would be willing to supply dna to help identify any remains, if it were possible, to go through the identification process. Is this indeed a real possibility?? If so, who could the family contact ?? Many thanks for this information. Adam Miller (son of Joan Taylor-Cannon, youngest sister) |
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Post by Andy Wright on Jul 31, 2014 9:42:39 GMT 12
Hi Adam
I have no idea where this has got to. I can only suggest you speak with the Commonwealth War Graves Commission to see if they are aware of the possible find or if they have an investigation underway prior to reburial. Perhaps try to make contact with the original poster of the ww2talk link Dave posted above? Otherwise, you're probably in a better position than me to know who to contact in NZ. I would start with the CWGC first though.
Sorry, not much help. I reckon other members on here will have a better idea.
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Post by Andy Wright on Jul 31, 2014 9:58:38 GMT 12
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adam78
Leading Aircraftman
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Post by adam78 on Jul 31, 2014 11:12:21 GMT 12
Well, I've run it through a translator, which did a pretty good job.
Makes no mention of Keith Taylor-Cannon so unsure where that leap of logic comes from. Seems quite clear it's an American airman.
Also this eyewitness quote:
"I was ten years old and ran with my mother on the spot in the forest. The pilot had survived the crash, but was then shot dead by soldiers. They waited until the plane was burned out, then pulled him out and buried him close"
Keith was seen to bail out, so could not have been in the plane to be pulled out as described above.
Adam.
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Post by Andy Wright on Jul 31, 2014 11:38:43 GMT 12
I ended up running it through the translator as well as I couldn't see a mention of KT-C etc.
Yes, I was wondering about the link as well (it was included in the ww2talk post Dave refers to in the first post of this thread). I still can't see, in the original ww2talk post, where the evidence of the remains possibly being KT-C has come from beyond what the original poster has said so, as a start, that person perhaps need to be contacted for further info.
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Post by Deleted on Aug 3, 2014 16:42:03 GMT 12
I spoke to Jim Sheddan about Taylor-cannon many times he told me that on the morning that Taylor-cannon was killed he (Jim) and another pilot found a German convoy of trucks travelling along a road. They did a few low passes until all the men got out and hid an a ditch They then proceeded to straffe the trucks and on one pass the men in the ditch fired back so they then did a couple of runs and straffed the ditch.
In the afternoon Taylor-Cannon announced that he was going back to the area - Jim told him of the incident in the morning and suggested that he stay away on the grounds that the german soldiers would still be quite pissed of about it. Taylor- Conon's response was 'Don't worry son, I can look after myself".
Jim told me that Taylor-Cannon took a direct him in the engine and bailed out - he was last seen by his wingman vacating the area on the back of a German motorbike - never to be seen again. Sad ending to a great aviator.
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Post by angelsonefive on Aug 3, 2014 17:54:55 GMT 12
In his book, Tempest Pilot, Jim Sheddan says "... Hyphen's plane received a direct hit and as he baled out his parachute caught fire
and to those watching he seemed to make a heavy landing. Hyphen's fate, after landing near those flak gunners, will never be known."
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