This collection consists of the following types of material documenting Taylor's remarkable aviation career: two scrapbooks, photographs, invitations, correspondence, identification cards, newspaper articles, Eagle Squadron Association material, Armed Forces memoranda, and biographical information. The scrapbooks contain material mostly highlighting Taylor's aviation career and the countries where he served; however, there are also photographs of Russia before the 1917 Revolution.
Biographical / Historical:
William E. G. Taylor (1905-1991) was an aviator for the United States Navy, the United States Marine Corps, the Royal Navy and the Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve. Taylor enrolled at the Guggenheim College of Aeronautical Engineering at New York University, but left to join the Naval Reserves in 1925. He received his Naval pilot's license in 1927 and was assigned to Fighting Squadron Five, Scouting Fleet. He resigned in 1928 when his squadron was ordered to inactive status and he then joined the US Marine Corps Reserve, where he was an aviator from 1928-1933. In 1933, he was again ordered to inactive status. At this point Taylor left the Armed Services and became a pilot for United Airlines. In 1939, however, he joined the Fleet Air Arm, Royal Navy, where he was in combat operations aboard the HMS Furious and HMS Glorious. Taylor then joined the Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve and became the first Squadron leader for the Eagle Squadron (71 Squadron, RAF), January - June 1941. In June, Taylor left the Eagle Squadron and rejoined the United States Naval Reserve, 1941-1951 where he served on the following vessels: Lexington, Yorktown, Wasp, Enterprise, Saratoga, and Ranger. After the war, Taylor was, among other posts, the commanding officer of Project Afirm and the commanding officer for the Night Attack and Training Unit, Atlantic (NACTU). In 1951 Taylor resigned from the Navy Reserves and worked first for Braniff Airlines in Panama, and then as a Vice President for Scandinavian Airlines System.
General:
NASMrev
Provenance:
Connie J. Ford-Miller, Gift, 1998, 1999-0033, NASM
Restrictions:
No restrictions on access
Rights:
Material is subject to Smithsonian Terms of Use. Should you wish to use NASM material in any medium, please submit an Application for Permission to Reproduce NASM Material, available at Permissions Requests
3.27 Cubic feet ((3 records center boxes) (1 20x24x3 flatbox))
Type:
Collection descriptions
Archival materials
Photographs
Correspondence
Publications
Clippings
Manuscripts
Date:
1922-1977
Scope and Contents:
This collection contains information about Admiral Leslie from the years 1922-1977, covering his Navy career and including the World War II years and his part in the Battle of Midway. The collection contains the following types of material: official Navy documents, letters from researchers who sought information on the Battle of Midway, personal papers, newspaper clippings, a magazine article with general information on the Battle of Midway and post-War publications. The collection also contains numerous photographs but none pertaining to the Battle of Midway. Most of the photographs are not labeled and show base life, including many of base athletic teams, mostly baseball.
Biographical / Historical:
Admiral Maxwell Franklin Leslie (1902-1984) attended the University of Washington before entering the US Naval Academy in 1922. He was commissioned Ensign in 1926, received flight training at Naval Air Station Pensacola in 1929 and was designated Naval Aviator in 1930. When the US entered World War II, he was Executive Officer of Bombing Squadron 3, based on the USS Saratoga. He later commanded that unit, operating from the USS Yorktown during the Battle of Midway. For extraordinary heroism there, he was awarded the Navy Cross. He also flew with his squadron operating from from the USS Enterprise while escorting the USS Hornet for the Doolittle raid on Tokyo, April 17, 1942. He continued to serve the Navy overseas during World War II and after the war spent the rest of his career on various ships and bases. He retired in 1956. In addition to the Navy Cross, he was presented the Bronze Star Medal with combat "V" and the Commendation Ribbon, the Presidential Unit Citation to the USS Enterprise, American Defense Service Medal, Fleet Clasp, American Campaign Medal, Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal, World War II Victory Medal and the National Defense Service Medal.
General:
NASMrev
Provenance:
William N. Leslie, gift, 1986, 1987-0131, unknown
Restrictions:
No restrictions on access
Rights:
Material is subject to Smithsonian Terms of Use. Should you wish to use NASM material in any medium, please submit an Application for Permission to Reproduce NASM Material, available at Permissions Requests